Roy Wheeler

Memorial service at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1, at Hillside Christian Church, Amarillo, Texas, with visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, at the church.

Roy Wheeler was born Nov. 6, 1931 in Western Grove, and went home to the Lord Friday, Aug. 25 (2017) in Wichita, Kansas.

Roy grew up on his parents' farm in Western Grove. In 1949 he went to Ozark Bible College, in Joplin, Missouri, to play basketball but while there he became a preacher. Through the years he ministered in churches in Missouri and Arkansas, and held revivals all over that part of the country. In 1966 he moved to Amarillo, Texas, where he became the pastor of Paramount Terrace Christian Church (now Hillside Christian) which soon became one of the fastest growing churches in the city. In the 1990s Roy helped plant churches in Russia and Belarus, taking 17 trips to the former Soviet Union. He also held church growth conferences in Australia and throughout the United States. In 1999 Roy retired from Paramount Terrace for health reasons but soon served as a consultant for West Amarillo Christian Church and later at Amarillo South church and helped them experience rapid growth. Later he was hired back at Hillside Christian to help with weddings, funerals, and hospital visitation. As his health declined further he finally retired from Hillside for good in 2014. Roy had a passion for God and a love for people and spent his lifetime helping them get better acquainted. His legacy lives on through his children and grandchildren who serve in ministry today and through the countless young ministers and missionaries he encouraged and supported through the years. 

Roy is preceded in death by his brother Ray Wheeler, and his granddaughter, Vryna Wheeler.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Elnore; his sister Fay Harlow and her husband Dan of Fort Wayne, Indiana; his sons Ron of Irving, Texas, Randy and his wife Chris of Detroit, Michigan and Rick and his wife Susan of Derby, Kansas; seven grandchildren Angela Segars and her husband Jared, Josh Wheeler and his wife Kirsten, Aaron Wheeler and his wife Danielle, Ashley McLeish and her husband Sean, Patrick Wheeler and his wife Lauren, Kasey Congdon and her husband Jeremy, Chloe Helmer and her husband Colton; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, with a memorial service 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1, both at Hillside Christian Church in Amarillo, Texas.

Memorial contributions can be made to Ozark Christian College, 1111 North Main Street, Joplin, MO 64801