John Forrest Wheeler, Jr., 81, of Prosperity, passed away on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at Newberry Health.

Born on July 5, 1944, in Newberry he was a son of the late John Forrest Wheeler, Sr. and Mary Louise Shealy Wheeler. John was reared in the old Kibler house in Prosperity. He served 27 years in the South Carolina National Guard. He retired from the grocery store business where he worked for A&P until it closed and later with Food Lion. In later years he worked with Senior Catering.

John was a lifelong farmer which he did until his cancer diagnosis. In his younger years he was a notable square dance caller. He also enjoyed traveling with the Newberry Road Runners.

John was a lifelong member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and was a member of the Lunch Bunch.

He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Sylvia Dowd Wheeler; a son, Johnny Wheeler; a step-son, Allen (Melody) Williams; grandchildren, Austin (Anna) Wheeler, Brittany Taylor, Nikki (Tyler) Poag; step-grandchildren, Dusty Graham, Daniel Williams, Shane Bowers, Brittany (Derik) Burris and Michaela Williams and six great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by a daughter, Brigitte Diane Wheeler and a sister, Elizabeth “Anne” Wheeler Counts.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 pm Saturday, November 22, 2025, at St. Paul Lutheran Church by the Rev. Dawn Rister. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends Saturday from 10:30 am – 11:30 am in the St. Paul Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 2496 SC Highway 773, Pomaria, SC 29126.

Active pallbearers will be Austin Wheeler, Daniel Willams, Jerry Shealy, James Richardson, Jody Riddle, Jimmy Scott, Chris Dowd and Derrill Taylor.

The family is honored with all in attendance, but would like to acknowledge as honorary pallbearers members of the St. Paul Lunch Bunch, the St. Paul Sunday School Class and Newberry Road Runners.