Margaret Ann Bishop Wheeler was welcomed into Heaven Friday afternoon, July 8, 2022. She was 89 years old.
Born in 1932 in rural Lawrence County, Tennessee, she was the oldest of three daughters of parents Marion and Flora Welborn Bishop.
Her youngest years were spent on farms in the Bodenham Community of Giles County and New Prospect in Lawrence County.
As a young teen, her family moved to Columbia where she graduated from Central High School in 1951. She attended Columbia Business College and soon found employment at Kaufman’s Department Store as a bookkeeper. She went on to work at Commerce Union Bank as a teller where she was introduced to her true love Robert Wheeler. They were married two months after meeting and spent their honeymoon driving Route 66 West to California for Bob’s new job.
Married for 48 years, Margaret and Bob lived in California, Missouri, New Jersey and Florida, but returned to Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee to raise their family.
Margaret was a homemaker until her children were grown, but later returned to banking as a teller with First Farmers and Merchants in Mt. Pleasant. A talented seamstress and cake baker, she and Bob retired in the mid-1980s to their home in Columbia, where she nourished her passions for gardening, cooking, quilting, and all things tinkering. One year at her garden’s finest she was proud to share it with others on the Columbia Cares Garden Tour.
Fiercely independent, she loved her family, home and living simply. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.
Margaret joins her parents, husband, and dear son, Warren Wheeler in Heaven.
Survivors include her daughter, Jane (Jay) Johnson; grandson, Mark Johnson (Megan Spelce); granddaughter, Elizabeth (Lane) Adams; great-granddaughter Kayley Ann Adams; sisters, Doris Nell (Massie) Davis and Patsy (Randal) Harris; many cousins, nieces and nephews, friends and her much loved dog, Princess.
A private family service is planned with entombment at Polk Memorial Gardens. Oakes and Nichols funeral directors are assisting the family with arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Mt. Pleasant First United Methodist Church, 202 South Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, TN 38474, Columba Cares,1202 S James Campbell Blvd., Suite 8B, Columbia, TN 38401, or a charity of the donor’s choice.
Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Or to Jane Johnson, 1400 Lyon Street, Columbia, TN 38401.
The family is grateful for the excellent care recently received at Maury Regional ER and ICU.
Mark 12:30-31 was one of Mrs. Wheelers favorite bible verses.
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