Wheeler Smith (Whee) died peacefully in his home on July 22, 2019, after having lived a full 100 years.  Born on March 15, 1919, to Arthur P. Smith and Maryan Wheeler Smith, he was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Guyla Allbee Smith and his brothers, Arthur P. Smith, Jr. and his wife, Carolyn, and David W. Smith and his wife Elizabeth, and his son-in-law, Floyd A. Hiar.  He is survived by his sister, M. Gay Conklin, his son Steven and his wife Joy and their six children: Adam, David and his wife Krista, Luke, Sarah Joy, Isaac and Peter.  He is also survived by his daughter, Gayla Hiar and her two children:  Erica, and Corbin and his wife Susanna and their daughter Lyla.  Whee travelled the world, but never strayed far from his beloved Minneapolis.  His childhood home was only 3 houses from the church that he attended his entire life. He graduated valedictorian from Washburn High School, Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard, and also earned his law degree from Harvard after serving in the Navy (South Pacific) during World War II. At age 24 Whee was pleased to save the Navy $12 million as a result of a memo he wrote that convinced the Chief of Naval Operations to cancel an order for ultra high frequency radio crystals that was not needed.  At Whee’s suggestion, each of the 600 US Naval ships were equipped with only one spare set of crystals instead of two.  Following his marriage to Guyla in 1947, Whee launched his law practice by examining titles at Shearer, Byard, Trogner and Peters.  In 1950 he began work for John B. Hawley’s Northern Pump Company specializing in oil and gas, and as counsel for Northern Ordnance dealing with government contracts.  In the early 1980’s Whee started his own practice with a goal to provide quality legal services for a nominal fee.  He handled the legal affairs of many clients who were unable to afford standard legal fees. Whee knew how to have fun as well.  The best evidence of this were four bus parties that Whee and Guyla organized with their friends, Ray and Mary Johnson and Betty and Fremont Fletcher.  The hosts were undisclosed, but various envelopes were passed to the guests giving them instructions on what they were to do.  The first bus party involved the participants travelling by bus to famous landmarks within the city like the Foshay Tower.  The second bus party was entitled “This Party is Good for What Ails You” in which the participants rode the chartered bus to the hospital to weave wicker baskets, to the YMCA for a modern dance class, and to the art museum for wrapping each other in toilet paper to create art?  The third party was a French theme which included a French play in St. Paul.  The final party was an “Out of This World” experience that included dinner on a United Airlines jet. Throughout the years beginning in 1936 and continuing until 2015, Whee documented his life and experiences in weekly family letters which he indexed and bound into 24 volumes. His true love, however, was what he called his “career of the spirit”.  In this area Whee was a member of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church for 88 years (the longest active member). Within the church he served as President of the Administrative Board, Secretary-Treasurer for the Board of Trustees, Secretary of the Administrative Council and many other positions. He also helped facilitate the purchase of the Sipe organ and did the legal work to change the church’s name into what it is today.  Whee was proudest of serving on the Commission on Missions for 35 years.  He taught elementary Sunday school for many years, even when he was in his 90’s.  He delivered Meals on Wheels for over 25 years and also enjoyed serving on the Board of N.I.P. (Neighborhood Improvement Program).   Whee loved all types of athletics including diving while at Harvard, sailing, tennis, and golf.  During college and even into his 40’s, Whee could do a perfect 1 ½ dive off a low board.  After law school, he and his brother David owned their own sailboat with a friend. Although the sailboat eventually turned into a piano, Whee never lost the desire to be sailing on the lake.  During the Minnesota winters he enjoyed skating and skate sailing on the lake - both of which he did well into his 90’s.  Whee belonged to the FMC Twilight Golf League for over 50 years. The golf league created a sportsmanship award in his honor called the Wheeler Smith Claret Jug.  He was an active member and officer in organizations too numerous to name, but believed strongly that because he had been blessed he was to be a blessing.  Whee’s family and friends will honor this man who lived life to the fullest at a Celebration of Life service on September 21, 2019, at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church at 11 AM.  Instead of flowers, the family requests that you donate to Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church (please specify Outreach Ministries) or to Meals on Wheels. 

Published on September 15, 2019