He is survived by his wife Sue, of Greenwood LA, three sons: Leonard B. Wheeler III (Lonny) and his wife Suson of Fayetteville AR, Dean J. Wheeler of Fort Smith AR, and Brandon C. Wheeler of Ithaca NY. He had two granddaughters and one grandson.
He graduated from Lake Charles High School, started college at LSU Baton Rouge and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana. He earned advance degrees from Webster University and St. Mary’s University of Texas in San Antonio.
He entered the Air Force as a Second Lieutenant upon graduation from Southwestern and went immediately to flight school at Laredo AFB, TX. After earning his pilot wings he began a long and varied career with the Air Force. He had the opportunity to serve his country as a B-52 Pilot, T-38 Instructor Pilot, and C-130/E Air Craft Commander and Instructor Pilot. He also was on the faculty as an instructor and academic evaluator at the USAF OFFICER Training School, served three years as the airlift advisor to the commanding General of the US Army Logistics Center at Fort Lee, VA, and was the Director of Operations for Airlift in Southern Command at Howard AFB, Panama.
Col. Wheeler flew more than 500 combat sorties in South East Asia and was awarded numerous citations during this time, to include the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Meritorious Service Medals, five Air Medals, two commendation Medals, the Vietnamese Campaign Medal with five campaign stars, the Expeditionary Forces Medal and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm.
Col. Wheeler is a 32nd Degree Mason, Shriner, past president of the Ft. Lee VA Chapter of the National Sojourners and the Ft. Lee VA chapter of the Heroes of 76.
On his retirement from the Air Force in 1988, Col. Wheeler took a position with the Ratheon Corporation as an Instructor Pilot at Little Rock AFB, AR, instructing combat tactics to USAF and allied pilots as part of the C-130 Air Crew Training System. He retired from Ratheon in 1998, returned to his home in Louisiana and accepted a position with the Louisiana Office of Community Services in Child Protection. Col. Wheeler was in this position at the time of his death.
Len died on October 13, 2005 from pancreatic cancer. A memorial service celebrating the life of Lt. Col. Wheeler was held Monday, October 17, 2005 at Broadmoor United Methodist Church. Officiating was Reverend Ken Irby. Full Military Honors were given by the Honor Guard of Barksdale AFB.
