YUBA CITY, Calif. — David W. Wheeler, 92, a resident of Yuba City for more than 50 years passed away peacefully, Jan. 3, in his home.
He was born June 17, 1918, in Lewiston, and known locally as “Joe Bush” Wheeler. He was active in football, baseball, track, boxing, and won the Maine Golden Gloves Championship, 147 pound class in 1936.
He traveled to California in 1938, and played football for Riverside Junior College. It was here that he met his future wife and life-long companion, Ellen Jane Bird. He transferred to Humboldt State College, where he excelled in football and track from 1939 to 1940.
He joined the Army Air Corps in May 1941, and completed pilot training in early 1942. He was assigned to a B-17 group in Boise, Idaho, where he married Ellen in March 1942. From April until November 1943, he was a squadron leader in the 306th Bombardment Group of the Eighth Air Force in England. He completed 25 missions over occupied Europe, including the famous Schweinfurt raid on Aug. 17.
He was awarded numerous medals and citations during this period including three Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, two Bronze Stars and the Presidential Citation. Later during the war, he was director of flying at Peterson Field, Colorado Springs. In 1945, he served as the personal staff pilot of General Patrick Timberlake in the Pacific Theatre of Operations. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1946.
Dave worked in the automobile business from 1949, and became the Cadillac-Oldsmobile Dealer in Yuba City, Calif., in 1960. He ran the business until 1984, when he turned the dealership over to his son Michael.
He was deeply and passionately involved in many activities in the Yuba-Sutter area including: Rotary Club; co-founder and chairman, Sacramento Valley Military Affairs Committee; foreman, Sutter County Grand Jury (1979 to 80); Advisory Board, CSU Chico; Advisory Board, Bank of America. He was a member of the Family Club, San Francisco.
Dave is survived by his wife, Ellen; his sons, David Jr. and his wife, Ruth Anne, and Michael and his wife, Annettee, all of Yuba City, Calif.; six grandchildren, Jake, Samantha, Annie, Margo, Ryan and Cole; and four great-grandchildren, Kelsey, Carson, Robby and Kate.
Dave will be remembered for his love of family, his devotion to his country, his many friends, his service to the community, his devotion to the military, to Beale Air Force Base, and his love of hunting and fishing.