Ida Wheeler

Ida Margaret Wheeler

1930-2016

Ida Margaret Wheeler, age 86, of Danville, died at her home Friday, July 15, 2016, surrounded by her loving family.

Ida was born in Gorham, New Hampshire, on March 24, 1930, daughter of the late Irving and Marion (Littlehale) Jones. She grew up in Gorham, graduating as Salutatorian from Gorham High School in 1948.  She received an academic scholarship to Plymouth Teachers College, for which she was eternally grateful.  She graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Education and started teaching at Danville High School the next fall.  She boarded in Danville with Fred and Mary Houghton on Hill Street, who introduced her to their good friend, Edward (Ed) Wheeler.  By December 22, 1953, the two were married, becoming lifelong residents of Danville.  Ida stopped working in 1955 to raise their family, eventually working part-time at the Pope Memorial Library and finally resuming work at Danville High School as the Librarian in 1964. Ida retired in 1982, enjoying thirty-one years of retirement and nearly sixty years of marriage with Ed, who predeceased her in 2013.

Ida was a voracious reader and instilled the love of reading in her children.  She especially loved gifting her grandchildren and great-grandchildren with books, magazines and workbooks at an early age.  During her retirement years with Ed, a favorite pastime was traveling to do research for the Jones and Wheeler genealogies.  She also enjoyed feeding/watching birds, was a passionate Red Sox fan and loved the mental challenge of crossword puzzles, Sudoku puzzles and jigsaw puzzles.  Above all, she simply loved spending time with her family.

Survivors include two daughters:  Martha Wheeler of Danville and Janice Ouellette and husband, Dan, also of Danville;  two grandchildren:  Jeremy Ouellette and wife, Anja, of Lebanon, New Hampshire, and Amanda Tanner and husband, Nick, of Underhill Center, Vermont; four great-grandchildren: Kolja, Annika, Lucy and Luka.  She was excitedly anticipating the arrival of her fifth great-grandchild at the end of July.  Ida is also survived by four sisters:  Patty Kovalik and husband, Eli, of New Hampshire, Joan Donaldson of New Hampshire, Pearl Pelletier and husband, Herman, of New Hampshire and Hazel Jones of Nevada;  two sisters-in-law Joyce Wheeler and Janette Wheeler of Vermont;  many cousins, nieces, nephews and her beloved cat, Hobo.

In addition to her parents and husband, Ida was predeceased by her sister, Arlene Corrigan and husband, Tom; her two brothers Bobby and John Jones;  her brother-in-law Leo "Chummy" Donaldson and all of Ed's brothers and sisters.

Graveside funeral services will be held Saturday, August 20, 2016, at 11 a.m. at the Danville Green Cemetery, with John Sleeper officiating.  There will be no visiting hours.

To continue to foster Ida's love of books, donations may be made to the Pope Memorial Library, P.O. Box 260, Danville, VT, 05828.

Memories and condolences may be shared privately at www.saylesfh.com.