Alice Wheeler, 91, Was Active in Civic Groups

Alice N. Wheeler of Venice, Fla., formerly of New London, N.H., died peacefully in Venice on Sept. 30, at the age of 91.

She was born in Lyndonville, Vt., on Dec. 11, 1910, the daughter of John F. Nash and Flora Campbell Nash. She counted among her ancestors 15 passengers from the Mayflower, including Gov. William Bradford and John and Priscilla Alden. She moved to New London in 1930 upon her graduation from Bay Path Institute to assume the position of bursar at Colby Junior College and left that position in 1937 to raise a family, having married Wayne K. Wheeler of New London in 1933. She had four sons, David (who died in infancy), Richard, Robert and Wayne Jr., and reentered the work force in 1956, when she and her husband helped found the New London Trust Company, which she ran until her retirement in 1971.

Alice was a much loved woman in the town of New London and was active in a number of community groups, including the First Baptist Church, where she was an organist; the New London Parent Teachers Association, and the Lake Sunapee Country Club. She also served as treasurer of the school district for many years. In 1986, the student center at Colby Sawyer College was named the Wayne K. and Alice N. Wheeler Student Center to honor her and her husband's many contributions to the school and the community.

She was predeceased by her husband in 1983. She leaves her three sons and their wives, Richard W. and Betsey of Pittsford, N.Y., Robert N. and Patricia of Martha's Vineyard and Wayne K. Jr. (Andy) and Pamela of Missouri City, Tex. She also leaves 10 grandchildren (Richard W. Jr., Christopher, Karen, David, Margaret, Gary, Lorae, Sara, Sarah and Shawna) and seven great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Dorothy Davis of Greensboro, Vt., and seven nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held at a later date at the Elkins Cemetery in New London. Memorial gifts may be sent to the Wayne K. Wheeler Scholarship Fund at Colby Sawyer College, New London, N.H.