May 2011 - Art Wheless

Uncle Art

Art died April 15, 2011, at home in Bellevue, Washington at age 90. Born January 13, 1921, at Fort Worth, Texas, he was the son of Arthur Davis Wheless, Sr., and Ruth Ella Grieve Wheless.

Art was preceded in death by his parents; two wives: Decillion (Dixie) Million Wheless and Josephine Bradley Wheless; two sisters: Cara Alice Wheless Larsen and Mary Ruth Wheless; two children: Frances Van Woert Lewis and Mark R. Wheless; and one granddaughter.

Art is survived by his wife Leanne Cullimore Wheless; eight children: Dianne Thorniley, Penelope (Dwayne) Hawkes, Michael (Marilou) Wheless, Noelle Million, Jennifer Silverton, Lucille (Harris) Lege, Brian Wheless, Rebecca (Eric Smits) Wheless, 14 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; one great great grandson. He is also survived by Leanne’s children: Annette (Simon) Wong and Scott Blair; one granddaughter and three great grandsons.

Art worked for The Boeing Company from September, 1941, until he retired in February, 1985. Most of his years with Boeing were spent in the Seattle area; however, he also was located for eight years in New Orleans, Louisiana, and for shorter periods in Rochester, New York; Paris, France, and Friedrichshafen, Germany. During his many years with Boeing, he worked as a Manufacturing Engineer on over 30 aircraft and space programs including Apollo and AWACS. Near the beginning of his employment at Boeing he worked as a tooling designer in the original Red Barn. In New Orleans Art as “Tillie” was with the Boeing Klown Klub, who visited and entertained sick children.

Art loved to tinker and build and remodel things. After he retired, he volunteered with the Visiting Nurse Service, installing grab bars, wheelchair ramps, etc.

Art had many interests in life. Two of the biggest were traveling and dancing. He traveled throughout the world both with Boeing and personally. He square danced, round danced, ballroom danced and informally “people” danced all over the U.S. and in Canada, Europe and Mexico.

At Art’s request there will be no funeral or memorial service.

Leanne Wheless is my mom's older sister. Art was a special man. I remember how kind and loving he was. My last visit to Seattle, many years ago, he made sure we were entertained and taken care of. He gave us a great tour of Seattle.