Lee Alden Wheeler

Lee Alden Wheeler, formerly of Epsom, NH, died peacefully on January 11, 2026, in Milledgeville, GA, at the Georgia War Veterans Home at age 76. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 23, 2026, in the Chapel of Hart’s at the Cupola. The family will greet friends following the service. A graveside service will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, January 26, 2026, at Georgia National Cemetery, 1080 Scott Hudgens Drive, Canton, GA.

Everyone who knew Lee knew that he was a man of eclectic interests, and trying to pin down all of his accomplishments is a tall order. Lee was an advocate of education and spent the years between his high school graduation (1968) and 1992 furthering his own education. In 1992, Lee became the first person in his family to ever complete a graduate degree. He was awarded a Master's in Education from Mercer University, so that he could become a teacher, which had long been one of his goals.

Prior to his time as a teacher, he served for over 18 years in the United States Air Force, where he enlisted as a medic during the Vietnam Conflict. He later applied to and was accepted into the Air Force Officer Training School. Lee spent the next several years in various positions as an officer, retiring at the rank of Major. During his military service, he took the most pride in his time as a Minute Man Three nuclear launch officer.

Outside of his military service and his time as a teacher, Lee found time to become a hot air balloon pilot, a semi-professional clown who went by the name of “Wheelie the Clown,” a Boy Scout Scoutmaster, a Judo competitor and coach, and an author.

Lee is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Margaret Wheeler, his children, Christopher Wheeler (Amy), Nicole Fambro (Clay), Tina Wheeler, and David Wheeler (Casey); as well as eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Lee was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Dixie Wheeler, his brother Jerry Wheeler, and his daughter Patricia Wheeler.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Noah's Ark Animal Sanctuary https://www.noahs-ark.org/ways-to-give or  Museum of Arts and Sciences https://masmacon.org/give/

Please visit www.hartsmort.com to express condolences.

Hart’s at the Cupola, Hart's Mortuary and Cremation Center, 6324 Peake Rd, Macon, GA 31210 has charge of the arrangements.