Obituary
MARTHA J. WHEELER (1929-2023)
Martha J. Wheeler passed away on December 31, 2023, at Halifax Health Port Orange Care Center at the age of 94. She was a resident of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, since 2002.
Known to friends and family as Marty, Mom, Aunt Marty, Grandma and GG, she was devoted to her family. She was a source of love, encouragement, news, support and comfort to generations of her siblings, children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Martha Jane Whitlow was born in 1929 in Louisville, Kentucky, to Martha S. Bassett and Arthur J. Whitlow. She was the second-born and only sister to her three brothers: Bill, Tom and Jim. The growing family moved to Pontiac, Michigan, in 1940, pursuing better job prospects in the automobile industry.
After high school, Martha began working at Pontiac State Bank in 1947, first as a mail girl and then in the bookkeeping department.
In 1950 she married Charles R. Wheeler, a former high school classmate who she didn’t know until years after they had graduated. With Charlie working at the Fisher Body division of General Motors, the young couple bought a small home on Third Street in Pontiac and had four children: Nancy, Chuck, Nita and Steve. The family settled into a bigger house in nearby Clarkston in 1964.
After a 12-year break to raise her kids, Martha returned to Pontiac State Bank, working as a teller, floor officer, assistant manager and finally manager of several of the bank’s branch offices. She was among the first female branch managers at PSB. While she was vice president-manager of the Clarkston office, she built many strong relationships with business and civic leaders in the community. Martha was active in the local Business and Professional Women’s organization and completed a professional development degree at the University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Banking.
Martha retired from PSB at the end of 1985. Empty nesters, she and Charlie moved to a new home in St. Clair, Michigan, in 1996.
Martha pursued several creative hobbies during her lifetime. She was a great baker of pies and cookies and was a talented cake decorator. She created wedding cakes for a clientele of friends and taught cake decorating to others. Later she took up knitting and watercolor painting. She played the organ and enjoyed golf but was most accomplished and competitive at playing cards. She loved bridge and regularly played with a group of ladies up until her final year.
Martha was an active member of Sashabaw United Presbyterian Church in Clarkston, First Presbyterian Church in Port Huron, Michigan, and St. Peter the Fisherman Episcopal Church in New Smyrna Beach. She gave her time to many charitable organizations, including the Salvation Army, Order of the Eastern Star and Clarkston SCAMP, a camp serving special needs children.
She served as a mentor to middle school students in Florida for many years and volunteered at the Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum in New Smyrna Beach.
Martha was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Charles R. Wheeler, in 1999. She is survived by four children: Nancy Domke (MacDonald), Charles C. Wheeler (Bethany), Anita Layton (Roy), and Steven Wheeler (Peter Risafi). She had seven grandchildren: Scott Domke, Erin Domke Peyerk (Troy), Katherine Domke (Matt Carrier), Lisa Wheeler (Jeremiah Solveson), Grace Wheeler Smith (Ryan), Matthew Olilla (Emily) and Daniel Olilla (Katrina). She also had six young great-grandchildren: Dane and Mila Peyerk, Lily, Greyson, Hazel and Margo Olilla.
Martha is survived by her brother H. Thomas Whitlow. Two other brothers predeceased her: C. William Whitlow (1924-2009) and James J. Whitlow (1941-2020). She had ten nieces and nephews: Bill Whitlow (1948-2020), Bob Whitlow, Carrie Whitlow DiToro, Thomas Whitlow, Jr., Nicole Whitlow Morgan, David Whitlow, Leann Whitlow Williams, Ryan Whitlow, Diane Wheeler and Dale Wheeler.
A memorial service will be held in Spring 2024 at White Chapel Cemetery, Troy, Michigan. The family is grateful to Riverside Care Center / Tiffany on the River for the professional and loving care provided to Martha during her final months. Donations in Martha’s memory may be made to Halifax Health–Hospice, Fund Development, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL 32129
We will also have a service in Michigan in July 2024.
Thank you for the memories. I will cherish them until we meet again.
I am grateful to have rekindled my relationship with you Aunt Marty. I Love you RIP
Manny and Vasu
Manny and Vasu
My beautiful Momma. She was my mom, my best friend and my everyday. She loved all of her four children, Nancy’s every morning phone call, Chuck’s silliness that made her laugh and Steve’s kindness and compassion. All her grandchildren and great grandchildren brought great joy!
I’ll forever cherish our outings that usually ended with a hot dog and a strawberry sundae at the DQ.
Love you much momma, I’m glad those legs are no longer a bother. Miss you much, Love Nita
She was at the center of our sprawling family. From her 90th birthday celebration in 2019.