Born in Brooklyn NY; passed away in his home in Gig Harbor, WA on March 17th after a short battle with a rare lung cancer. He was 89. Bill led a long life of hard work, optimism, curiosity, competition, and service. He met his wife of 66 years, Doreen, while stationed in the army at Ft. Lewis. They moved to Brooklyn, then Breezy Point, NY and Bill served on the NYPD for 20 years. He earned the rank of sergeant as well as a B.S. degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. In 1975, he and his family moved to Gig Harbor, WA and he served another 20 years with the Washington State Patrol. Never one to slow down, he drove a cabulance for another 17 years in his retirement.Bill loved good food, good conversation, classic movies, trivia, watching sports, oldies music, bowling, and most of all: softball. He competed for close to 70 years and won over 50 medals as well as 6 senior softball championship rings. Bill Wheeler was a warm, easygoing, vigorous, and likeable man who treated everyone with fairness and consideration. He made an instant endearing impression on everybody he met, and he will be missed by everyone far and wide who knew him. He is preceded in death by his siblings James Wheeler and Eleanor Mickelsen and his eldest son Richard Wheeler. He is survived by his wife Doreen Wheeler, children Kenneth Wheeler, Eugene Wheeler, Carol Russell, and Janet Wheeler, his sister Joan McNally Keating, and a large family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A celebration of life is planned for June 3rd at 12:30 pm at Heart Church of Fox Island, 655 Sixth Ave Fox Island WA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center @ FredHutch.org