Aletha Lavonne Wheeler was born February 7, 1935 in Topeka, Kansas to Kenneth and Opal Leonard, she passed away December 9, 2025 in Palmer Lake, CO. She grew up in Topeka and graduated from Topeka High School in the class of 1953.
June of 1953, she was united in marriage to Woodrow “Toby” Watts Jr of Ottawa, Kansas where they made their home and had two children, Connie and Charles. In the early 60’s, they moved to Overland Park, Kansas where Toby joined the newly formed, Overland Park Police Department. They divorced in 1973. Lavonne was united in marriage to William “Bill” Wheeler in February 1975. They lived at Gramercy Park in Overland Park for 40 years where Lavonne loved planting and decorating around the patio of their townhouse.
Lavonne was a homemaker until the family moved to Overland Park where she first worked selling advertising for the Johnson County Courier then at the Montgomery Ward Catalog store before settling into a job with E.R. Squibb and Sons Pharmaceutical’s as a Key Punch Operator. When she married Bill, who owned and operated Trailwood Barber Shop at 95th and Nall in Overland, Park, she changed careers to become a Cosmetologist. She joined Bill in the business which changed to Trailwood Family Haircare. Bill and Lavonne owned and operated the business until their retirement in 2005.
Lavonne and Bill joined Colonial Presbyterian Church in 1996 where Lavonne was an active member involved in committees, missions and groups. Lavonne was a faithful and joyful servant to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; she wanted to be remembered by the words “Lost, Found, Forever Grateful”.
The highlight of their retirement, other than spending time with grandchildren was a trip to Israel. Lavonne and Bill were members of the Prime Timers class at Colonial enjoying not only class time and Bible study but many related social gatherings with other members.
Lavonne’s father’s family migrated from Ohio to Kansas in 1869 when they settled in Monmouth Township, Shawnee County. She loved to reminisce about her family heritage, especially her grandparents who moved to Western Kansas to homestead in the late 1880s-1890s then returned to Shawnee County by way of two horse drawn wagons across the prairie with three small children.
Lavonne is proceeded in death by her parents and husband, Bill. She is survived by her children, daughter Connie Fleming (Brian) of Monument, Colorado, son Charles Watts (Sally) of Overland Park, Kansas, her brother, Ken Leonard (Gail) of Lenexa, Kansas, five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, one niece and one nephew.
Services for Lavonne are TBD. She and Bill will be interred at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Monmouth Township, Shawnee County near Topeka, Kansas.
The family would like to express our deepest gratitude for the care given Lavonne, especially in the past few months by the caregivers at Shana’s Place in Palmer Lake, Colorado.
June of 1953, she was united in marriage to Woodrow “Toby” Watts Jr of Ottawa, Kansas where they made their home and had two children, Connie and Charles. In the early 60’s, they moved to Overland Park, Kansas where Toby joined the newly formed, Overland Park Police Department. They divorced in 1973. Lavonne was united in marriage to William “Bill” Wheeler in February 1975. They lived at Gramercy Park in Overland Park for 40 years where Lavonne loved planting and decorating around the patio of their townhouse.
Lavonne was a homemaker until the family moved to Overland Park where she first worked selling advertising for the Johnson County Courier then at the Montgomery Ward Catalog store before settling into a job with E.R. Squibb and Sons Pharmaceutical’s as a Key Punch Operator. When she married Bill, who owned and operated Trailwood Barber Shop at 95th and Nall in Overland, Park, she changed careers to become a Cosmetologist. She joined Bill in the business which changed to Trailwood Family Haircare. Bill and Lavonne owned and operated the business until their retirement in 2005.
Lavonne and Bill joined Colonial Presbyterian Church in 1996 where Lavonne was an active member involved in committees, missions and groups. Lavonne was a faithful and joyful servant to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; she wanted to be remembered by the words “Lost, Found, Forever Grateful”.
The highlight of their retirement, other than spending time with grandchildren was a trip to Israel. Lavonne and Bill were members of the Prime Timers class at Colonial enjoying not only class time and Bible study but many related social gatherings with other members.
Lavonne’s father’s family migrated from Ohio to Kansas in 1869 when they settled in Monmouth Township, Shawnee County. She loved to reminisce about her family heritage, especially her grandparents who moved to Western Kansas to homestead in the late 1880s-1890s then returned to Shawnee County by way of two horse drawn wagons across the prairie with three small children.
Lavonne is proceeded in death by her parents and husband, Bill. She is survived by her children, daughter Connie Fleming (Brian) of Monument, Colorado, son Charles Watts (Sally) of Overland Park, Kansas, her brother, Ken Leonard (Gail) of Lenexa, Kansas, five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, one niece and one nephew.
Services for Lavonne are TBD. She and Bill will be interred at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Monmouth Township, Shawnee County near Topeka, Kansas.
The family would like to express our deepest gratitude for the care given Lavonne, especially in the past few months by the caregivers at Shana’s Place in Palmer Lake, Colorado.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Aletha Lavonne Wheeler, please visit our flower store.
Aletha Lavonne Wheeler's Guestbook
Visits: 4
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors