Dr. Robert C. Wheatley

Dr. Robert C. WHEATLEY (1925 ~ 2012) Robert Wheatley, retired Pastor, counselor, working in the service of others and their needs, passed peacefully at the age of 86 in Barrington, IL on Friday, April 27th - he is survived by this wife of 61 years Isabella and son Robert. He is remembered and revered by hundreds of parishioners at Boulevard Park Presbyterian Church in Seattle, WA where he ministered for 25 years before retiring in 1990. His life's work best described as a visionary teacher who inspired others in their relationship with God, while helping many families deal with the grittier troubles of struggling marriages, conflict between parents and their children and doubts about life's questions and uncertainties. Robert and Isabella met at church in Schenectady, NY while he was working as an electrical engineer for General Electric. They married in 1951. After returning to school at Princeton Theological Seminary to study for his Divinity degree, Robert briefly pastored at a church in Pleasantville, NJ before the couple ventured to Edinburgh, Scotland. There Robert attended the renowned University in Edinburgh earning his PhD in Philosophy, and produced their first and only child Robert. From Edinburgh to Princeton, NJ Robert began an eight-year period devoted to teaching Chemistry and Philosophy starting at the Hun School - a private college preparatory school where he counted the son of the King of Saudi Arabia among his students. He moved to a similar position at the St. Louis Country Day School - and while in the mid-West had a transformative experience that led him to re-enter the ministry. What ensued was an adventure founded entirely on faith and belief that he had been called to the church in Seattle. The family moved, belongings and all, before he had been offered a position - believing he would be welcomed and embraced by the congregation there. Robert began the zenith of his life as spiritual leader and guide to a community in need of strength and spiritual vision. His church office was a revolving door of counseling to families in need while he expanded Boulevard's community focus by creating The Way Inn, a home and real-world learning experience for young people. He expanded the church's reach and ministry through an out-sized commitment to support of foreign missions and missionaries. Following retirement Robert launched part II of his ministry, working as an advance scout and liaison with local Pastors for the US crusades of South American evangelist Luis Palau and his World Ministries organization. Family focus became a larger goal in 2003 when he and Isabella relocated to the Chicago area to be closer to son Robert, his wife Kristen and two grand children Peach and Heather. Robert's life in sum a stellar example of a brilliant mind in service of his faith and belief that a relationship with Jesus Christ would transform lives - eternally. Visitation will be held Monday, May 7, 2012, from 10-11a.m., at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 149 W. Main Street, Barrington, IL 60010, with a funeral service at 11a.m. Burial will be held at Evergreen Cemetery, Barrington, following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Salvation Army, www.salvationarmyusa.org or World Vision, www.worldvision.org or Moody Church www.moodychurch.org. For information, please contact Davenport Family Funeral Home, 847-381-3411, for online condolences please visit, www.davenportfamily.com.