Dowell "Rip" Wheat's Obituary
Dowell C. “Rip” Wheat of Memphis, TN died on March 5, 2012. He was born on April 1, 1924 in Poinsett County in Northeast, Arkansas. He would’ve been 88 of age this coming April. He was the son of the late William M. Wheat and Nora Chandler Wheat. He graduated from Tyronza Arkansas High School. Upon graduating from high school he was drafted into the US Army in 1943 and served for about three years in the European and Pacific theaters. After his discharge from the Army, he entered Memphis State College and graduated in May of 1950. He then entered the work force including working for over 20 years as a detail man for Ethicon (Johnson & Johnson). He is preceded in death by his wife Gloria Frances Wheat and his youngest son John Randall Wheat as well as his brothers Sam Wheat, Ralph Wheat and his sister Lillian Johnson. He is survived by his son Wendell T. Wheat, MD and daughter-in-law Sherry Wheat and his brother Gough Wheat and nephew Tim Wheat. He also leaves three grandchildren, Jason Wheat, Jaclyn Wheat Moss, and Jeree Wheat as well as three great grandchildren, Charles Randall Moss, Collins Olivia Moss, and Wilson Oliver Wheat. He was an avid lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan and had the great pleasure of enjoying many winning seasons including the “Gashouse Gang” win the world series in 1934, all the way up to watching the Cardinals win their 11th World Series Championship this past October. He also enjoyed watching his granddaughter’s playing competitive fast pitch softball and rarely missed a game including many out of the state tournaments. He also was a Life Master bridge Player. The family will receive friends from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 10 at Memorial Park Funeral Home with a memorial service to follow at 2:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Memphis and Shelby County Humane Society.
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