Benjamin Franklin Wheeler

Benjamin F. Wheeler (Sr.), aged 86, passed away peacefully on March 24th at his home in Mill Valley, California. He was born on July 5th, 1937, in Providence, RI to Lucia H. and Robert L. Wheeler. He spent many summers as a kid sailing on Narragansett Bay and in Upstate New York with his grandmother and three siblings Bob, Jack and Mary. Later he enjoyed Summer jobs on Block Island. Ben was a talented artist/illustrator throughout his life and graduated from Rhode Island School of Design where he met his wife. He served in the U.S. Navy on the USS Boston in the late 1950s. Ben spent most of his career as a fire protection engineer in San Francisco, designing automatic sprinkler systems in many major buildings around the U.S. and in Canada. His many passions included drawing, painting, singing and playing the guitar as well as hiking, camping and traveling. Ben was a proud resident of Mill Valley and enjoyed the natural beauty of Marin County for over 60 years. He contributed to the community as an artist, an open space and flood control advocate, a scout leader, a mason and a father. He will be missed dearly by his loving wife Vida of 64 years, his three children: Jaime (Derrick), Ben, Jr., Guy (Yurong) and his seven grandchildren: Emma, Marshall, Caela, Clay, Sunny, Jacob and Selena as well as numerous nieces/nephews, and his many friends and neighbors.

A celebration of life will be held for Ben on Sunday, August 11 at 4:00pm at the family home in Mill Valley. To RSVP, contact Jaime 808-382-8475, Ben Jr. 203-274-1902, or Guy 423-220-7279, text preferred. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Kern Project to help save homeless dogs and cats thekernproject.org