Carolyn Elizabeth Mabee Wheeler
Carolyn Elizabeth Mabee Wheeler, 84, a resident of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, for 56 years, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, May 30, 2023.
She was a longtime member of the Church of Christ and was 84 years and seven months old the evening she transitioned at a rehab facility in Montgomery, Al., due to complications from pneumonia and COVID.
Carolyn Wheeler devoted her life to family, education and service of others. She was a gift from God in this world and brought love and joy to all who knew her. She was the chief secretary/executive assistant at Red Bank High School from 1978 to 2007. She enjoyed every second of her work, which she said never felt like work. She loved with all her heart the principals, teachers, other staff and students over her 29 years at RBHS. Carolyn frequently said there never was a single moment she did not cherish her job. Principals, staff and students would say she “ran the school.” That is something she never said, but it shows the high esteem in which she was held and the love and respect everyone had for her.
Carolyn wrote: “Throughout the years and with all the changes, the feeling of being part of the Red Bank High family has always been there. My work at Red Bank High has always been exciting, interesting and rewarding. I have many special memories of Red Bank High School. These include being selected for the 2001 Red Bank High Hall of Fame; having the yearbook dedicated to me in 1988; being named Hamilton County Schools Secretary of the Year; and being awarded PTSA Life Membership. The most important and precious memories I have are of the people – people whose lives I have been a part of and who have shared their lives with me. The faculties, the students, and the parents are who I will remember always.” She also treasured serving on the Red Bank High School Hall of Fame Committee after her retirement.
Carolyn loved to travel – with her family, co-workers and friends. She visited all 48 states, many numerous times and many with her grandsons, in the continental U.S. plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. She often talked about how blessed she and her daughters were that her husband, World War II-veteran Kirk Wheeler, took them on his two-week duties and weekend drills during his 40 and ½ years in the Navy Reserves – at bases in Charleston, SC; Orlando; FL; Norfolk, VA; Great Lakes, IL; Marietta, GA and more. After his two-week duties, Carolyn and Kirk took the children all over the surrounding states and up into Canada. The family’s lifetime love of travel to Walt Disney World started with her husband’s service in Orlando.
With her co-workers she also was most fortunate to travel many times to Great Britain, Wales, Scotland, France and Ireland as a chaperone on student trips for Red Bank High School. With her family and friends she also traveled to Vancouver, Montreal, Ontario, Northern Ireland, Ireland and Amsterdam and to Istanbul, Ankara and Cappadocia in Turkey, and more. Just as she treasured all of her travels, she loved life and people. She accepted life on life’s terms, never angered and always lifted everyone with whom she came in contact.
In addition to serving in public education, she was devoted to all areas of public service. With her husband she volunteered to chair elections on Signal Mountain for decades. She also was a longtime sustaining member of the Alabama New South Coalition. She considered Montgomery, where her daughter Sharon lived, a second home, and she loved spending time at Maxwell Air Force Base. She also volunteered on campaigns for which her daughter worked over the years.
Carolyn was the oldest of six children. She was born in Chattanooga and briefly lived in Monteagle before growing up in Red Bank. When she graduated from Red Bank High School in 1956, she went to work at the Hamilton County Department of Education Central Office, where she worked until she married her soulmate S. Kirk Wheeler, whom she met through her work at the Central Office when he was a principal. She said she prayed every night for the Lord to lead her to a good man to marry, and the Lord did just that. She and Solon Kirk Wheeler were married on July 16, 1966 and were true partners in all aspects of their lives. They moved to Signal Mountain in January 1967. Prior to going to work at RBHS, Carolyn Wheeler served as a substitute teacher for many years on Signal Mountain and in Hamilton County.
Carolyn is preceded in death by her loving husband of 46 years, S. Kirk Wheeler; parents Erskine Brown and Margaret Patterson Mabee; sisters Catherine Weber and Peggy Cottam; and son-in-law Mike Thomas. She is survived by daughters Sharon Wheeler of Montgomery, AL, Teresa Tinney (Greg) of Atlanta, GA; and Pam Thomas of Hixson; grandsons Wheeler and Sky Tinney of Atlanta, GA; and granddaughter Taylor Thomas York (Ethan) of Chattanooga; siblings Erskine (Ann) Mabee of Sale Creek and Niota; Richard (Shirley) Mabee of Signal Mountain; and Elaine (Corey Crane) Mabee of East Ridge; brother-in-law Maurice Weber (Newburgh, IN); and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and numerous other family and friends as well as her beloved red miniature poodle Buddy.
Funeral services will be on Wednesday, June 7, at 2 p.m.. at Chattanooga Funeral Home North Chapel. The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6, and from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Chattanooga National Cemetery at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 8.
The family requests memorial donations be made to a cause most special to her, The S. Kirk Wheeler Library at Thrasher Elementary School, online at https://bit.ly/carolynwheeler or by mail or in person at 1301 James Blvd., Signal Mountain, Tn. 37377.
Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory, and Florist at 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, Tn. 37343, 423 698-2541.
Please share your condolences at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.