Chris W. Wheland

Chris W. Wheland, 77

Lansingburgh Chris W. Wheland, 77, of Fifth Avenue, died Tuesday at Samaritan Hospital Troy, after a brief illness.

Born in Troy, he was son of the late Charles W. and Nellie Babcock Wheland and husband of Julia Aird Wheland. He had resided in the Troy area all his life and was a 1941 graduate of Lansingburgh High School.

Mr. Wheland was a self employed General Contractor in the area since 1945.

He was a very active member of the United Methodist Church of Lansingburgh serving as Trustee, Chairman of Finance, member of the Administrative Council, President and Treasurer of the Mens Club, Advisor to the Group House Chairman and Church Property, Senior Deacon and Head Usher. He also attended the Local Church Council Conference as Lay Leader. Mr. Wheland was a Charter Member of Lansingburgh Kiwanis Club, a member of the local Scouting Committee, served as Chairman of Local Pack No. 19 and Scout Troop Committeeman.

Mr. Wheland was also very active in Masonic circles. He was Master and Secretary, twice, of the Jerusalem Masonic Lodge 355 in Lansingburgh. He served on many lodge committees, was District Chairman of the Brotherhood fund, President of the Lansingburgh Masonic Temple Association, was a member of Phoenix Chapter No. 133, R.A.M. Bloss Council No. 14 and Iran Grotto. He was a 32 Degree Mason, and a member of Troy Delta Bodies, the Albany Consistory, the Oriental Shrine, Troy Shrine Club, Troy Shrine Patrol, and Captain of the Guard of the Rose Crois Troy Delta Degree Team, also served as worthy Patron in the Court of the Amaranth. In 1990, he was honored to be the Grand Representative of Turkey to the Grand Lodge of the State of New York. He was a U.S. Army Air Force veteran of World War 2 serving 17 months in the European theatre and received 2 battle stars.

Survivors in addition to his wife include two sons John C. Wheland and wife Lynn of Clifton Park and Glenn C. Wheland and wife Catherine of Troy; a brother Richard A. Wheland and wife Ruth A. of Troy; five grandchildren Jennifer Lynn Wettergren and husband Thomas of RI, Chris (Bud) Wheland of Troy, Lori Lybert and husband John of Cambridge, Kristi Drinkwater and husband Scott of Malta and Lindsay Morris and husband Seth of Charleston, SC; 5 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother Charles W. Wheland Jr.

Funeral service will be held Friday at 9:00am from the Bryce Funeral Home, Inc. corner of Pawling at Maple Avenues in Troy with Rev. Brian Gould, Pastor of the United Methodist Church of Lansingburgh, officiating. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home Thursday from 4-8pm. Interment Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville. Contributions may be made in memory of Mr. Wheland to the United Methodist Church of Lansingburgh Memorial Fund, PO Box 239, Troy, NY 12182 or Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children 516 Carew Street Springfield, MA 01104.

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