Francis Wheeler
1927-2013
WEST SPRINGFIELD-Francis Wheeler, 85, died Saturday at the Soldier's Home in Holyoke. He was born in Cleveland, OH, grew up in Vermont and Springfield before settling in West Springfield in 1960. He retired from the Engineering Department in West Springfield after working there for 32 years. He was a Navy and Army veteran serving in both WWII and the Korean War. He was predeceased by his wife Patricia (McGarrett) Wheeler in 2012. He leaves his daughter Lynn LaFrance and her husband Joe, granddaughter Sara LaFrance, all of West Springfield, brothers James Wheeler of West Springfield, John Wheeler and his wife Beatrice of Plymouth, VT and David Norton and his wife Irene of NC and sisters Joan Tourigney of Russell and Shirley Billings and her husband Robert of Plymouth, VT. He also leaves his sister-in-law Rachel Gaffney, good friend Sister Maureen Toomey from Sacred Heart Church and other extended family. The family would like to thank Donna Taucher who took care of Fran and his wife Pat at home, as well as the wonderful staff on 3 West at the Soldier's Home. The funeral Mass will be Wednesday at 10 am at Sacred Heart Church in Springfield followed by burial with Military Honors in the Massachusetts Veteran's Memorial Cemetery. A calling hour will precede the Mass on Wednesday at the West Springfield Curran-Jones Funeral Home from 8:30 to 9:30 am. Donations in Fran's memory may be made to the Holyoke Soldier's Home, 3 West, 110 Cherry St., Holyoke, MA 101040. For more information please go to curranjones.com.