Dr. Wallace Graham Wheeler

1918 - 2011

Dr. Wallace "Wally" "Doc" Graham Wheeler, 93, an Indio, Calif. physician for 52 years, passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 8, 2011 at his home in Indio. He was born March 4, 1918 in Brooklyn, N.Y. to George and Helen Wheeler of New York. His father owned and operated a dye factory and his mother was an elementary school teacher. He grew up in Brooklyn, attended PS93 School, Boys High and graduated high school at Manlius Military School. During his school years Wally took up the drums and had his own dance band. Wally went to the University of Michigan and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1939. While at Michigan he was the lead drummer for the U of M marching and symphony band. Also at Michigan he met his future wife, Muriel. It was destined to be, because his father and Muriel's father were once roommates when they themselves were attending the University of Michigan. Upon graduation he went to work for the Babcock & Wilcox boiler making company in Ohio until World War II, when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an officer. During the war he taught Marine Engineering to the future naval officers at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. After the war he pursued his lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. He attended and received his MD degree from Case Western Reserve Medical School in Cleveland, Ohio in 1950. After practicing medicine in several states, in 1953 he and his family left the snow and ice and settled in Indio, working at the then Casita Hospital. He later went into private practice in Indio, retiring in 2006. He was known for putting "smiling" faces on tongue depressors and giving them to his younger patients. Wally is survived by his wife of 71 years, Muriel (Haskins) Wheeler; their daughters, Karen Hinkle of Fairfield, Idaho and Diana Thompson of Des Plaines, Ill.; son, Christopher Wheeler of Lancaster, Calif.; seven grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren, with the 14th on the way. Besides his three children, he was father to over 12 foreign exchange students. During his long and productive life, he served on the Indio City Council and was an active and lifelong member of the CV Lions Club where he wrote and directed over a dozen annual plays and musicals. A real renaissance man, he was a musician, skier, ski area owner, entrepreneur, jogger, square dancer, artist, rancher, bandleader, book author, songwriter and an avid golfer. He loved music and besides the drums, he also played the trombone, flute, clarinet, trumpet, baritone and a little piano. He especially loved "Big Band" music so he formed his own Wally "Doc" Wheeler's Band. They played at several events in the Coachella Valley including several Date Festival appearances. His orchestra also recorded and produced a "Big Band Sounds" cassette tape. He wrote a song entitled "Golf Club Throwing Blues" which was included on the tape. At age 90 he finally finished his book "How to throw a *!!?*@!!?*!&*#!! golf club!!!" and got it published. During his long golfing career, he had two holes-in-one to his credit. He loved to travel, visiting several countries with his family. He has participated in several "Blast From the Past" Michigan marching band events by playing drums on the field at "The Big House" Michigan football stadium. In 2000 Wally and Muriel took their three children to Cleveland for his "50th" medical school reunion with side trips to Canton, Ohio (Muriel's old home town) and New York City (Wally's old home town) to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. After Wally's retirement in May 2006, the City of Indio proclaimed June 22, 2006 as Dr. Wallace G. Wheeler Day. A public memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, June 25, 2011 at the Shepherd of the Valley United Methodist Church, 45501 Deglet Noor, Indio, CA. Muriel Wheeler asks that in lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice.