Extracted from The Franklin Sun (Winnsboro, LA)
James Doyle `Wildman' Wheelus
Funeral services for James Doyle ``Wildman'' Wheelus, 54, of El
Dorado, Ark., were held Tuesday at Young's Chapel in El Dorado,
with the Rev. Clay Hale, the Rev. J. D. Weido, and the Rev. Larry
Hudson officiating. A graveside service was held in Winnsboro, at
Oak Grove Cemetery under the direction of Young's Funeral Home.
Mr. Wheelus died Saturday, July 24, 1999 at Medical Center in
South Arkansas after a lengthy illness. He was born March 25, 1945,
in Winnsboro. He was the son of Henry W. and Mayola Cupples.
After graduating from Winnsboro High School he joined the U.S.
Army and served two tours of duty in Viet Nam in the 101st Airborne
division, receiving numerous awards and citations, including the
Bronze Star. After leaving the military, he served as a deputy sheriff
in East Baton Rouge Parish until moving to El Dorado. He was a
carman for the Rock Island Railroad and retired from Union Pacific
Railroad in Shreveport, where he served as chairman of the local
chapter of the United Brotherhood of Railway Carmen. He was a
member of Liberty Baptist Church in Lawson, Ark.
Mr. Wheelus was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers,
W. H. Wheelus, Winnsboro; Gene Wheelus, Mobile, Ala.; Rogers
Wheelus, Big Springs, Texas; and one grandson, R. J. Fryman,
Jacksonville, Fla.
Survivors include his wife, Elaine Welch Wheelus, El Dorado; two
daughters, Jami Gathright, El Dorado; Lola Fryman, Jacksonville,
Fla.; a son, James Bradley, Frisco City, Ala.; one sister, Helen
Wells, Baton Rouge; one brother, Ralph Wheelus, Lawrenceville,
Ga.; one foster brother, Shelby Wheelus, San Antonio, Texas; and
three granddaughters.
Memorials may be made to the VFW in El Dorado, or the James
Doyle Wheelus Memorial fund at Oak Grove Baptist, Winnsboro.
Wednesday, July 28, 1999