Donald Wade Wheeler, 64, of Chandler, died Wednesday, July 13, 2011.

He was born March 11, 1947, in Laurel, Mississippi to Bill and Mildred Wheeler.

He graduated from Garland High School in 1965 later receiving a Bachelors of Sociology, with minors in Criminal Justice and Psychology, from Cameron University in Lawton in 1981.

Donald married Glinda Harlin while residing in Texas. They moved to Oklahoma in the seventies and settled in Chandler, Oklahoma around 1985.

He was a minister from 1978 to 1981 in Davidson, Oklahoma.

He worked for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections as a probation and parole officer from 1981 until 1986. In April of 1987 he began his career with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. He gave twenty-four years to the child welfare services in which he worked in many capacities over the years to include: investigator, foster care worker, permanency worker and family centered services worker. He was promoted to the lead child welfare worker position in 2003.

Donald loved family, reading and learning. He returned to school in 2001 and obtained a Masters Degree in Education with a concentration in Counseling and Guidance from East Central University. He was a certified reality therapist and also instructed graduate-level courses in education research for several semesters with East Central University. He was one of the founders of the KIDS First multi-disciplinary team for Lincoln County. He was recognized as the Child Advocate of the Year by the KIDS First organization for work done in the area of child welfare and protection in 2010.

Donald was a “giver” and prided himself in his work and his ethics. He always dressed professionally and was thought of to have owned more ties than a department store. He always arrived at work timely and was highly organized.

Donald had a unique sense of humor and cared deeply for those he knew. He certainly cared about the children on his caseload and worked diligently to meet their needs. Having a passion for service he was respected by co-workers, community partners and by many children families and foster parents with whom he worked during his many years as a social worker.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents, and sister Wanda.

He is survived by his wife, Glinda Wheeler; daughters, Stephanie and husband Grant Moore of Tulsa; Mitzi and husband Steve Aylor of Yukon; Jae and husband, Dustin Miller of Yukon; his grandchildren who knew him as “Poppie”, Amelia Moore, Alex Moore, Jaxon Miller, Donovan Miller and Thomas Aylor; brother, Winston and sister Twana both of Texas.

Visitation is scheduled for Friday, July 15 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Memorial service is set for Saturday, July 16 at Lehman Funeral Home in Wellston.

Donations in Donald's honor can be made to the following: Kids First Coalition c/o Sonya McDaniel 14001 Acme Rd Shawnee, OK 74804; State of Oklahoma BACA PO Box 580084 Tulsa, OK 74158; Watch Dog - Yukon Public Schools c/o Terra Peters 600 Maple Yukon, Oklahoma 73099.