Todd M. Wheeler

   Lieutenant Colonel Todd Michael Wheeler, US Army Retired, of Newville, PA died Friday August 2, 2019.

    Born May 9, 1964 in Carlisle, he was the oldest son of Harry Leroy Wheeler of Elizabethtown, PA and the late Brenda Mae (Baughman) Wheeler of Carlisle, PA.

    He leaves behind his loving wife Lori Jo (Miller) Wheeler, cherished daughter Lindsay Jo (Wheeler) Herman, wife of Trevor, father Harry & wife Peggy, twin brother Tedd, husband of Linda, sisters Tena, wife of Eric Brown and Tonya, wife of David Rike. Todd was the favorite son-in-law of Donnie & Sandy Miller and brother-in-law of Shane & wife Tonya Miller. He was the beloved “Uncle Todd” to Lauren & Seldon Warner, Bradley & Kristin Stouffer, Zachary & Kim Wheeler, Hannah Wheeler, David & Emily Washburn, Madison and Makenzie Miller, Lea and Seth Cobaugh, and Cecilia and Sophia Rike.

    Todd’s father was his Cubmaster and Uncle Ron Baughman was his Scoutmaster where he learned leadership by example, earned his Eagle Scout Award in 1980 and became a Scout for life. He graduated from Big Spring High School in 1982 and was forever Bulldog proud. Todd graduated from Shippensburg University in 1986 with his B.S. in Criminal Justice and was commissioned as a US Army Second Lieutenant in the Military Police Corps. As a life-long learner he graduated from Central Michigan University in 1999 with an Masters in Administration, from the US Army War College in 2012 with a Masters in Strategic Studies, and was a Doctoral Candidate in the Administration & Leadership program at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

    He fell in love with his sweetheart, Lori Jo, and they married December of 1986. Todd and Lori began their lives as a military couple in service to our Nation that would span over 21 years, 17 moves, three combat tours, and multiple operational deployments. His faith in God would set him apart in the Army. He lived by the creed “mission first, soldiers always.”

    A proud Army wife, Lori would stand by Todd’s side at every promotion, be his anchor and help him be a better man. They were blessed with daughter, Lindsay Jo, in 1996, and eventually settled in Newville after Todd retired from the Army in 2007. He continued to serve our Nation for over 12 years as both a Department of the Army and Homeland Security Civil Servant—serving 3 years with FEMA before his final posting as Emergency Manager of the US Army War College in Carlisle. After beating cancer, Todd walked Lindsay down the aisle September of 2018—one of the proudest days of his life.

    Todd served Newville Assembly of God as a Sunday School teacher and Royal Ranger Commander. He was a year-round volunteer with Operation Christmas Child and served on mission trips with Samaritan’s Purse. He also served on the Bulldog Foundation Board, volunteered with the Cumberland County Local Emergency Coordinators as well as the Joint Veterans Council in Newville, and acted as a merit badge counselor for the local Boy Scout troops. Todd was a teacher in all his endeavors.

    Todd’s legacy is his faith that he shared by action, his service beyond self, the joy of family, and that he left our world a better place than he found it.

    Memorial services will be held 4:00 PM Saturday, August 10, 2019 at Carlisle Evangelical Free Church, 290 Petersburg Road, Carlisle, PA 17013. A private interment service will be held at Fort Indiantown Gap, PA, at the convenience of the family.

    Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to Samaritan’s Purse www.samaritanspurse.org. Condolences can be shared at www.facebook.com/todd.wheeler165

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