Obituary for Benjamin Franklin Wheeler, III
Benjamin Franklin Wheeler III, beloved Son, Brother, Father, Uncle, Friend, and the best Grandpa entered into heaven on January 21, 2022. Ben was born on July 21, 1952 to Jean Moran Wheeler and Benjamin Franklin Wheeler Jr., in Orlando, Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his sister Miriam Bruce; children, Katie (Robert) Harris, Polly (Micah) Arrington, Noah (Krystal) Wheeler; and grandchildren Alyssa, Finley, Grayson, and Lukas.
Ben was a 5th generation Oviedian and a lifelong resident. He attended Oviedo High School and graduated 1970, and then went on to Florida Southern College where he graduated and was voted “Outstanding Citrus Major.” Ben was a successful farmer and was well known in Central Florida for his knowledge of farming.
He was a lover of all things history and was able to recite most of Seminole County’s history off the top of his head. He also loved writing and had a column with the Oviedo Voice for many years. He wrote a lot of things just for fun and loved to share them with friends or whoever wanted to read them. He was also very knowledgeable and enjoyed everything about trains. Ben was also an amazing piano player and could play by ear; he played with his whole body and anyone that heard him playing always stopped to listen. It was truly a blessing to hear and see him play.
He loved being a dad and grandfather and loved his dogs just as much. He would probably admit that sometimes the dogs were treated better than the kids. He was known for taking everyone to go get treats, but if the kids were getting a treat, so were the dogs. He never went anywhere without his dogs, and you could always spot them in the back of his prized Model-T truck that he called “Ms. Lizzie.” He spent many days taking us kids with him on his rounds to all the groves, but we never saw it as work; we always had fun.
Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, January 29, 2022 at Crosslife Church in Legacy Hall at 11:00 am with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital.
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Ben was a 5th generation Oviedian and a lifelong resident. He attended Oviedo High School and graduated 1970, and then went on to Florida Southern College where he graduated and was voted “Outstanding Citrus Major.” Ben was a successful farmer and was well known in Central Florida for his knowledge of farming.
He was a lover of all things history and was able to recite most of Seminole County’s history off the top of his head. He also loved writing and had a column with the Oviedo Voice for many years. He wrote a lot of things just for fun and loved to share them with friends or whoever wanted to read them. He was also very knowledgeable and enjoyed everything about trains. Ben was also an amazing piano player and could play by ear; he played with his whole body and anyone that heard him playing always stopped to listen. It was truly a blessing to hear and see him play.
He loved being a dad and grandfather and loved his dogs just as much. He would probably admit that sometimes the dogs were treated better than the kids. He was known for taking everyone to go get treats, but if the kids were getting a treat, so were the dogs. He never went anywhere without his dogs, and you could always spot them in the back of his prized Model-T truck that he called “Ms. Lizzie.” He spent many days taking us kids with him on his rounds to all the groves, but we never saw it as work; we always had fun.
Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, January 29, 2022 at Crosslife Church in Legacy Hall at 11:00 am with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital.
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