LACONIA — Ellsworth Haines Wheeler, 78, of Laconia, NH, passed away at his home on Saturday, May 17, 2014. "Bud" was a loving husband, father, step-father, grandfather and friend. He will be missed by many.
Dr. Wheeler was born on September 19, 1935, in Geneva, New York. He received an A.B. from Dartmouth College in 1957, and a Ph.D. from the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography in 1968. He served in the United States Air Force from 1958-1962 and the U.S. Navy Reserve from 1962-1974.
He joined Stanford University and planned and led research expeditions at sea, taught graduate courses and wrote grant proposals for the Stanford Oceanographic Program. He taught at the University of New Hampshire from 1970 through 1977.
Bud and his second wife, Kay, moved to Charleston, South Carolina, in 1987, and lived on a boat until Hurricane Hugo in 1989. After some years as a Reference Librarian at the Medical University of South Carolina library, he turned his hobby into a second career and enjoyed much success as a portrait sculptor. The Wheelers lived in Charleston until moving to Laconia last year to be with family as they began the "great winding down".
He is predeceased by his sister, Emily, his first wife, Ann, and grandson, Benjamin.
Bud is survived by his wife, Kay; three sons: Jeffrey (Dawn) of Gig Harbor, WA, David (Francine) of Sandy Hook, Ct. and Drew (Jamie) of Kahuku, HI . Two grandsons, Jon Wheeler of Richmond, VA and Nate Wheeler of Sandy Hook, Ct. Also surviving are four step children, Fletcher Preuninger (John), Steven Youschak (Yun-Hui), Blair Youschak and Paige Thompson (David) and six step grandchildren, Chase, Grant, Grace, Christian, Ryan and Sage.
Private memorial services will be at a later date in Charleston.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra, P.O. Box 721, Meredith, NH 03253.