William Wheeling
July 17, 1934 ~ August 11, 2013
Born in: Franklin, Pennsylvania
William Bill G. Wheeling, 79, of 793 Keely Road ,Franklin died at 9:55 P.M. , Sunday, August 11, 2013 in Union City as the result of a motorcycle accident. Born July 17, 1934 in Franklin, Bill was the son of the late Walter and Irena Mae (Firster) Wheeling-Shingledecker. He was raised by his step-father, Lee Shingledecker, who preceded him in death. William is a 1952 graduate of the Rocky Grove High School. On July 16, 1954 he married Shirley English, who survives. He was a member of the Worden Chapel United Methodist Church Bill was employed as a heavy equipment operator for Shingledecker Welding. Later he was employed by Penn DOT as a heavy equipment operator and instructor, he retired from there in 1994. He also worked locally running his backhoe for friends and family, and driving cars for A. Crivelli Ford. Bill raced for over fifty years at local dirt tracks bringing home many trophies. He worked at the Daytona Speedway as an usher and was a supervisor for many years during the Daytona 500. Bill was also known for driving the pace car at Tri-City Speedway. He was a member of the Twin-State Auto Racing Club Hall of Fame, The Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Hall of Fame, and the Tri-City Speedway Hall of Fame. He was an avid Steelers fan. He loved spending time with his family and was proud of his children and grandchildren. He lived his life as a role model for all of them. Bill enjoyed the outdoors and helping his neighbors with their projects. He was a humble man who had a strong belief in God. In addition to his wife, Bill is survived by his sons, Greg Wheeling and his wife, Thea, and Steve Wheeling and his wife, Dawn, both of Franklin; a daughter, Kathy Dye of Franklin; a sister, Betty Weaver of Oil City; and five grandchildren, Nathan Wheeling and his wife, Sarah, of Alexandria, VA, Leslie Wheeling of Lansdale, PA, Nikki Risley and her husband, Jay, of DeLand, FL, Whittni Kramer and her husband, Scott, of Franklin, and Leah Wheeling of Franklin. He was preceded in death by his parents; step-father; and his step-mother, Elsie Wheeling. Friends will be received at the Gardinier Funeral Home, Inc., 1315 Chestnut Street, Franklin, on Wednesday, August 14, 2013, from 3:00 PM- 7:00 PM. Friends will also be received on Thursday, August 15, 2013 from 10:00 AM-11:00 AM at Grace United Methodist Church. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, August 15, 2013 at Grace United Methodist Church, with Rev. Ed Gresick pastor of the Church, officiating, he will be assisted by Rev. Earl Dykes and Rev. William Beck. Interment will be in Lupher Chapel Cemetery. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Worden Chapel United Methodist Church, 967 Keely Road, Franklin, PA 16323 . To send online condolences, flowers, cards, or for further information, family and friends are invited to visit www.gardinierfuneralhome.com.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Steve – you and your family our in our thoughts and prayers during this time. Deepest sympathies to all. May God keep his arms around you during this time.
Pam, Matthew and Megan
Aunt Shirley & kids, so shocking to hear this news, Uncle Bill was always a highlight at our family reunions, I know he had many friends in the racing world. If you ever are in need Aunt Shirley I am only a phone call away. and Greg, Kathy and Steve my heart goes out to you, losing a parent is something none of us want to go through RIP Uncle Bill Love & Prayers Julie & Chip
I am deeply saddened to hear of your loss. I have always enjoyed see Bill and Shirley whenever they have visited my folks (Charles & Helen Cauvel). Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
Words seem inadequate to express the sadness I feel about your grief in this time of bereavement.
I am sending my sincere condolences & prayers to you and your family.
May all of you keep & cherish your fond memories of Bill Wheeling; may your fondest memories sustain you at your time of loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you, as you embrace those around you. Just know that my arms are wrapped around you during this time of loss.
Yolanda DiMino Sloan & DiMino Family. Whittier, California
my thoughts go to the family. bill was a great man to work with.
he would do any things for you. GOD bless. tom tidd
To Greg & Family we are sorry for your loss Bill was a good man. You know he is in the best place he can be know. You all will see him again. Stay strong .From Loney family.
So sorry for your loss . Bill was a gem from the generation ahead of us . always interesting to talk to, a good role model and certainly a good husband and father . Sure will be missed !
This is just so heartbreaking, Bill was such a good guy. If he saw you somewhere he always had the time to say hello and catch up for a few minutes. I hope for all of you the day comes quickly when the pain and devastation is softened by all the memories of him that make you smile and laugh. You have my Very Deepest Sympathy
Steve, Dawn and family, We are very sorry to hear of the loss of your father. Our prayers are with each and every one of you. May God bless you and give you strength in this time of sadness. And may He give you happiness through all your memories. With sympathy, Frank and Becky Riddle
Nikki Risley and Family: We are sending lots of love and prayers your way.
We are thinking of you all at this sad and difficult time. Bill always had a smile on his face and was a joy to work with at Tri-City. May your wonderful memories of the many great times you shared comfort you.
Shirley, Cathy, Greg, and Steve,
We were shocked and sad to hear of Bill’s death. He was a great man and of course a great racer. All of you are a big part of our past and all the great times at the races watching my dad and Bill compete. Our thoughts are with you all at this difficult time.
In our absence, we send to you our deepest sympathies and prayers for your family. God Bless.
AlturnaMATS, Inc.
My thoughts and prayers are with you, Shirley and family. My memories of happy days at race tracks and times in Florida will always make me smile! These are the times that let us know what is important in life and what is not! God bless Bill!
Dear Shirley, Kathy, Greg, Steve and all of your families, So very sorry for your loss of your beloved Bill. You will remain in my heart and prayers. Love, Linda Dye
Thinking of you in these difficult times and keeping you in our prayers
We are so sorry for your loss. Wish we could be there. Please know that we all here in Orange City, FL have you all in our prayers.
Sorry to hear of Bill’s passing. We are from Conneautville, PA, but met Bill in Orange City, FL through our vintage motorcycles. Bill was a great guy and we’ll miss him. Our condolences to the family.
Wheeling family,
Your entire family is in my thoughts and prayers. Sorry for the loss of a wonderful man! My deepest sympathies!
Steve,
Stephen & I are so sorry to hear about the loss of your father. He sounds like he was a great man and role model. I know he raised you to be a great human being. God bless you and your family. And bless your guardian angel.
We are so sorry for your loss. Know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Greg and Family;
You have our deepest thoughts and prayers for your family at this very difficult time. The few times I met Bill (in Vegas at CONEXPO) he was fun to be around and always had something to make you either scratch your head or make you bust out laughing.
I’m sure he will be missed greatly. Take care.
Phil and Rita Schounard
So sorry to learn the news about Bill. I remember Shirley, Bill, Greg, Kathy and Steve when we were kids and Tri City racing too! What a great guy and family. He truly enjoyed living what he liked so much. My thoughts are with your family all.
We are so sorry to here about the death of Bill. We are in Michigan and are unable to be with you at this time. We will miss seeing you in Fl. Take care and hope to see you before we go south. Our sympathy to you and your family.
We wanted to express our deepest sympathies to you,so many cherished memories of bill at worden,and at tri-city.thoughts and prayers coming to you god bless. Dulaney’s garage,& 7W racing
So sorry to hear about Bill’s abrupt passing. However, it was gratifying to know that he was able to enjoy his life – doing what he loved – right up until the end! May this fact be a comfort to all of you!
From Aunt Pearl’s Girls
Virginia Boylan Sarver
Nancy Boylan Caylor
Susan Boylan Wolford
Our deepest Sympathy
I am sorry to learn of Bill’s passing. I have many memories of he and I racing against each other years ago at Tri-City Speedway. My sympathy to all the family.
Harold Seber
Shirley and family,
We were very saddened by Bill’s passing. We fondly remember days at Tri-City Speedway and other tracks with my father Bert and mother Norma. Bill was a very good person and he and Dad and Tom Kelly had many good times together. Kathy Kelly informed me of his passing. May you and your family know we are thinking of you.
Sincerely,
Duane and Ruth Wible
Dearest Shirley, Greg, Steve, Kathy, and all family,
I am so very sorry for the loss of your Bill / Dad.
I am praying for you all to be surrounded by the hands of God as you morn for his passing and celebrate for him as he is now with our Lord. He will be greatly missed but he has left you all with wonderful memories to hold on to.
Know we are thinking of you and will keep you all in our prayers.
Deb and Bud Lepley
Every time I have seen him in the past few years he always had a smile on his face and I could remember all the good times we had growing up in Rocky Grove. I am so sorry for your loss.
Leah Rae
It was an honor to know Bill. Sincere condolences to his family.
The Wheeling Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this time. I have fond memories of Bill in my childhood! He was a great person!
Love
Bonnie DeLong Oravecz
our thoughts and prayers are with the wheeling family.
Dan and I want express our deepest sympathies. We regret not being able to express our condolences in person, but we were our of state helping our son and his wife move back to Franklin.
Bill was a great guy. Every time we saw Bill he always had time to chat. He always talked about his family and asked about Mom. And he still called me “Elmer” when he saw me and would laugh. It would bring back fond childhood memories of him and dad.
We all want to express our heartfelt condolences to the entire Wheeling family. What a tragic loss. We hope that, in time, you can all receive comfort in the knowledge that he left us enjoying a favored activity. You will remain in our hearts, thoughts and prayers. We have all lost a great man.
Jim, Susan, Allison & Ron Firster
My deepest sympathy to the family. I have not lived in the Franklin area for a long time, but was high school friends with Kathy. Hoping family, friends, and good memories help at this difficult time.
To Steve and Greg and the “Bills” loving family, our sincere condolences. Your father will always be with you in so many ways. He sure seemed to live life to its fullest. My prayers are that you will let those thoughts embrace your heart and ease the pain of losing your loved one.
Steve, Dawn & all your family,
Sending our deepest sympathy & love in the passing of your loved one.
What a tragic loss!!!! We send our sincere condolences to the entire Wheeling family and they are in our thought and prayers. May God bless and comfort them. I (Janet) have know Bill since a wee little tot as he and our familiy have spent many, many enjoyable times with them. Also have know Shirley and her family for many years and express our heartfelt sympathy to them as well. We all will meet him over yonder. God bless!!
gary and i are certainly going to miss bill.every year we looked forward to seeing him in fl. our deepest sympathies are with you shirly and family at this difficult time.
gary and darlene
orange city fl.