James Edmund Wheeler

James "Jim" Edmund Wheeler, 89, of Plain City, OH, passed away on August 30, 2023, in Birmingham, AL. He was born on May 1, 1934, in Plain City, OH to the late Joseph Wheeler and Virginia Sharp.

Jim is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Joanna Wheeler, his sister, Kathy Wilson (Richard) and his daughters Vicki Shay, Christy Thompson (John), Shelly Garris (Brian), Kelli Roe (Lynn), Angie Liddell (Scott), and Debbie Duncan (Pete). He was also a cherished grandfather to Jaime Vang (Thomas), Jeremiah Dawson, Emily Shay, Jessi Keeton, Jackie Caskey (Bennie), Jonathan Thompson, James Thompson, Lauren Lawrence (Jake), Megan Boyles (Joey), John Roe (Corley), Joseph Roe (Victoria), Brandon Smith, Anna Holbrook (Nick) A.J. Smith, Corey Hulsey, and Kyle Hulsey.  He is also survived by 21 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren.  Jim's late sister, Cheryl Wheeler, granddaughter, Amanda Lewis, and Son-in-Law, Harold Shay preceded him in death.

Jim attended Plain City High School and went on to further his education at Ohio State University.

He proudly served two years in the Army from 1956 to 1958.

After his military service, Jim embarked on a distinguished career at AT&T, where he worked as an electrical engineer and manager for 45 years until his retirement in 1991. He received numerous awards for his contributions to telecommunications, with his most notable achievement being his work on the number 5 crossbar system.

Jim was a faithful Christian and served at numerous churches throughout his life and was a member of Mt. Carmel # 2 in Maplesville, Alabama.

In his free time, Jim enjoyed indulging in his hobbies, which included aviation, carpentry, home construction, golf, traveling, and listening to music. He loved his family deeply and was most proud of raising his girls and being there for his grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 to 2:00 PM on Sunday, September 3, 2023, at New Cedron Baptist Church, 14581 Co Rd 37, Billingsley, AL 36006, followed by a funeral service at 2:00 PM. Burial will take place at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at Crestview Memorial Gardens, 4304 Johnson St, Adamsville, AL 35005.

Jim Wheeler will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him. His legacy of dedication, hard work, and love will continue to inspire those whose lives he touched.