John Wheat

Grand Saline-Funeral services for Johnnie D. Wheat, 87, of Grand Saline will be 2:00 pm, Thursday, January 19, 2012, at Bartley Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Mark Winskie and Rev. Don Brown officiating under the direction of Bartley Funeral Home in Grand Saline. Burial will be in Woodside Cemetery, Grand Saline.
Mr. Wheat passed away Monday, January 16, 2012, in Grand Saline.
Mr. Wheat was born November 24, 1924, to the late Jesse Lee and Mary Joanna Cunningham Wheat. He lived his early years in Ranger and many years in Austin before moving to Grand Saline in 1987. He served in the Army Air Force during WWII where he served as a radio operator and on the Highly Skilled Bomber Crew in Manilla, Philippines. He married Nelda Oldham on November 7, 1987, in Grand Saline. He was a real estate broker and appraiser and a member of First United Methodist Church, Grand Saline. He was a past president of the Civitan Club in Austin, the Realtor of the Year in 1971 in Austin, and Vice-president of the Board of Realtors in Austin. He was also a member of the Texas Board of Realtors. Mr. Wheat was very musically inclined and loved playing the fiddle, mandolin, guitar, piano, and many other instruments. He also loved Geneology, Texas History, Frederic Remington Art, and other western art. He was a past president of the “Over the Hill Club” where he enjoyed dancing and was known as “Twinkle Toes”. Mr. Wheat was an avid fisherman also.
Mr. Wheat was preceded in death by his parents, six brothers, one sister, and step son, Jeff Ivy.
He is survived by wife, Nell Wheat of Grand Saline; daughters and sons-in-law, Cathy and Paul G. Koenekoop of Amsterdam, Cindy and Paul Peters of San Antonio, and Marilyn and Mike Ingram of Austin; step daughter and step son-in-law, Peggy and Rodney Brumit of Grand Saline; step daughter-in-law, Judy Ivy of Grand Saline; sister and brother-in-law, Pat and Jack Herrington of Salado; 2 grandchildren, Elizabeth Peters and John Peters; 3 step grandchildren, Jason Ivy, Jeremiah Carnes, and Jana Ivy; 6 great grandchildren.
Pallbearers are Paul Peters, Dale Wheat, Jason Ivy, Rodney Brumit, Mike Ingram, John Peters, and Jeremiah Carnes. Honorary pallbearers are members of his Sunday School Class, Pairs and Spares.
Visitation will be 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 584, Grand Saline, TX 75140 or to Autumnwood Hospice, Grand Saline, TX 75140.