Berlin – Raymond I. Wheeler, 79, passed away Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015 at Valley View Manor in Norwich, N.Y. He was predeceased by his former wife, Alice (Cole) Wheeler; his parents, Maurice O. and Evelyn H. Wheeler; and his significant other, Ruth Stratton.
He is survived by his daughter, Naomi Wheeler Lachance; two grandchildren, Angie L. Trumpet and her significant other DeAndre Bendross and Raymond Scott Lachance and his wife Samara; and seven great-grandchildren.
Raymond was born in Marlborough and grew up on Gates Pond Road in Berlin. As a young man, he volunteered for the Berlin Fire and Rescue. He was a wood cutter, farmer and contractor. He moved to Maine with Alice where they could have a “Bigger Farm.” He would later leave the farm and chop wood working with various logging crews all over the state of Maine – he especially enjoyed logging with his daughter.
Raymond loved to travel; he moved both of his grandchildren all over the country for various college and life experiences, visited Watkins Glen with his daughter every year for Nascar weekend, and traveled with Ruth, including the annual trip to Cumberland Island with her children and grandchildren. In his retirement years, he spent more time in New York with Ruth. He continued to cut a little wood and loved to go to auctions around New York, buying things to sell at the flea market in Woolwich, Maine in the summer. He also became a Yankees fan for which most of his New England friends forgave him.
With a twinkle in his eyes and a big belly laugh he was often mistaken for Santa Claus. His response to which was, “Well, have you been good?” He faced life “One Day at a Time,” and enjoyed time spent in little coffee shops “swapping lies and telling stories.”
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to H.O.M.E., PO Box 10, Orland, ME 04472, or you may simply perform a random act of kindness in his memory.
A graveside service is tentatively scheduled for March 28, at 1 p.m., in the South Cemetery, Pleasant Street, Berlin. A Celebration of Raymond’s life will be held immediately following the service in Berlin. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Tighe-Hamilton Funeral Home of Hudson.
