Pat Wheeler Edwards

July 12, 2017

Margaret Patricia “Pat” Wheeler Edwards, age 84, passed away peacefully on July 12, 2017, at Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson, North Carolina. Born in Rockville, Maryland to Eleanor & William Russel Wheeler, she graduated from Richard Montgomery High School and followed her father into the field of drafting, first working at the Naval Ordinance Lab in Silver Spring, Maryland. In 1952 she married Burton Edwards. While Burton was traveling the country as a truck driver, she demonstrated her strength of character by raising their three children, Burt, Carol and Eva, and running the household. She excelled as a mother and grandmother, ensuring her children and grandchildren could experience all the richness of the world. And all with the quiet modesty of a loving mother and grandmother. Her greatest joy was being with her family whether at holiday gatherings, family picnics, or quiet times at home. Her work life took her in several directions from drafting, to waitress, school cafeteria manager, textile plant worker, and most recently as seamstress. She made beautiful banners that adorn the sanctuary of Sparta United Methodist Church for all the church seasons and holidays. Her works are scattered through many homes in the surrounding community as she sewed and altered clothes, and designed and created window treatments, layettes, bedspreads, pillows and even toys. She was truly a creative, resourceful and unwavering woman who, as her husband recently stated, could fix anything including a stuffed panda bear with a missing mouth and broken neck. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by one brother, William Russel Wheeler, Jr, and one sister, Joyce Elaine Stone. She is survived by husband Burton of the home; three children, Burton Edwards, Jr, of Wilkesboro, Carol Perdue (Bill) of Glade Valley, and Eva Mathers (Scott) of Raleigh; three grandchildren, Russell Edwards (Angie) of Woodlawn, Virginia, Luke Mathers of Raleigh, Rachel Mathers of Raleigh; sister, Thelma Lewis of Rochelle, Virginia; and numerous nieces & nephews. A service celebrating Pat’s life will be held on Saturday, July 22 at 12:00 noon at Sparta United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends following the service in the church fellowship hall. The family extends special thanks to Rev. Bob Miller for the continuing love and care shown to Pat. The family requests that In lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Joan & Howard Woltz Hospice Home, 945 Zephyr Road, Dobson, NC 27017 or Youth Ministry Fund, Sparta United Methodist Church, PO Box 697, Sparta, NC 28675. Grandview Memorial Funeral Home is proudly serving the Edwards family and if you wish, online condolences may be submitted to the family at www.grandviewfuneralhome.com.