Dr. Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Wheeler

1918 - 2006
Betty Wheeler passed away peacefully at her home at Magnolia Glen Senior Living with the loving support of Hospice, friends and family on Sunday, February 19, 2006.
Born in Witchita, Kansas in 1918, she was a long-time resident of San Francisco and held a greatlove for the Bay Area. She was married to James Matthews, a pilot in the US Army-Air Force, stationed in SF and had one son by him, Michael James. After her husband's death during WWII in New Guinea, Betty married Chief Warrant Office Leon Wheeler andlater had her second son, Richard Lee Wheeler.
She moved from California in the late 50's and received her BA from Norfolk College of William and Mary ('59), her MA from UNC at Chapel Hill ('62) and her PhD from UNC at Chapel Hill in Russian history ('65). She called Raleigh home since the late 60s, but kept a fondness for San Francisco until the end.
Betty wasan associate professor ('72) and later head of the department of history at NCSU until she retired in 1982. Her love for travel, and especially Russia and Siberia, led her to many travels to the former Soviet Union and Europe. She was the recipient ofmany post-doctoral fellowships and honors including Faculty Fellowship in International Studies Program (UNC-Duke, '69-'70) and a Fulbright-Hay's Faculty Research Abroad Award ('74-'75) and numerous others.
She was a loving and gracious woman and was an early volunteer at the soup kitchen at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Raleigh and a contributor to numerous charities around the world. She shared love of fine foods and wines with her many friends and relatives and was for many years an authority on bonsai plants, teaching and writing about the many techniques she learned over her lifetime.
Survived on theeast coast by her loving sons, Michael James Wheeler of Atlantic Beach, Florida and Richard Lee Wheeler of Chapel Hill, NC and her daughter, Sue Scott of Raleigh.
She was preceded in death by her second husband, Francis Leon Wheeler in 2001 and her only brother, McCay "Mac" Hunt in 1965.
Betty cherished her west coast relatives and made yearly visits to see them. Surviving her in the Bay Area are Bennett and Arlyn Christopherson, Elin Christopherson and nieces, Dorcus Suzanne McCay (Turek) and great niece, Joy Palmer and childhood lifelong friend, Ruth McGinnis niece, Jimmi Ann Noel of Honolulu.
The family invites her friends to make donations in her honor to the compassionate caregivers at Hospice of Wake County / 1300 St.Mary's Street, Fourth Floor / Raleigh, NC 27605, 919-828-0890.
A memorial celebration of life in Betty's honor will be held at Magnolia Glen on Sunday, February 26, 2006 at 2 p.m.