O. Edward Wheaton

On April 27, 2011, Ed Wheaton, formerly of LaGrande, passed away in Lacey,WA,surrounded by family. Born June 24, 1912,he was the youngest of four children and
was born on a homestead near Columbus,NM. Because of the imminent danger from Pancho Villa raids,the family moved to El Paso, TX, where Ed spent his early years.
He moved with his family in 1924 to Portland, OR where he graduated from Washington High School. In 1938, in Portland, he married his beloved wife, LaVerne "Dream" Barock. Just prior to WWII, a daughter was born in Portland and they accepted a company transfer to LaGrande, where a second daughter was born. They lived for a short while in Union, where they owned a furniture and hardware store. Ed joined the Army Air Corp in 1945, and served in Bermuda. After the Army service, he and
Dream made it a priority to move back to Eastern Oregon, where
they lived for 69 years. Ed was owner of the Wheaton Monument
Co. in LaGrande, and the Central Washington Monument Co. in
Yakima,WA, until his retirement in 1977.

A man of many interests, Ed loved to travel, fish, and especially
play golf. He was twice president of the LaGrande Country Club
and a board member for many years. He was also a retired senior
member of the LaGrande Rotary Club, a 50-year member of the
LaGrande Elks, chairman of the Community Chest, and four-time
chairman and long-time board member of the LaGrande Cemetery
Maintenance Association. Ed was a man of faith, and became a member of Zion Lutheran Church in 1940, serving three times as president of the Church Council, and also as a chaplain for the American Legion.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, and a
sister. He is survived by his wife of almost 73 years, Dream, and
daughters Susan Bothwell of Ocean Park,WA, and Linda McMillan (Jeff) of Olympia,WA. Also surviving are four grandchildren: Terry Bothwell, Ocean Park,WA, Todd Bothwell, Denver CO, Lea McMillan Hysom, Issaquah,WA, Ross McMillan, Santa Barbara, CA, and several great-grandchildren.

Ed and Dream relocated to Western Washington in 2009 to be close to their daughter. Eastern Oregon, however, was never out of their hearts and minds. We remember Ed as an outgoing,warm and generous man, a faithful and devoted husband, and a wonderful father. He was a gracious man of whom friends say,"Ed was truly a gentleman". He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

A celebration of Ed's life will be held on Saturday, June 25th at 3:00 p.m. at the La Grande Country Club. Any memorial contributions may be made to any non-profit organization of choice.

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