Paul O. Wheaton

Paul O. Wheaton, 79, of Marathon, NY, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, September 25, 2011, at his home.

Paul was born in Cortland, NY, on July 16, 1932, a son of the late Marc Wheaton, Sr. and Margaret Jones Wheaton. A lifelong resident of the area, he was a communicant of St. Stephen's Catholic Church, Marathon, where was active in the Holy Name Society. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served during the Korean Conflict. He was a member and Past Commander of the Marathon American Legion Post #617 and a life member of the Marathon Fire Department. He was also a member of the Moose Lodge in Marathon. He retired from Smith-Corona in 1982 and also worked at Kurtz Welding, Marathon. His first job was with the Carrigan Dairy in Marathon. In his spare time, he enjoyed coaching Little Leage baseball and the American Legion baseball teams. He was the world's greatest "Poppy" and adored his children and grandchildren.

He is survived by his children, Margaret Wheaton of Plymouth, Shelley (Donald) Warnow of Marathon, Wendy Means of Syracuse, Erika (Ted, Jr.) Kemak of Willet, and Sandy (Dick) Griep of Marathon; his stepchildren, Patricia (Ralph, Jr.) Canfield of Marathon, Susan Canfield of Homer, Heidi Wilcox of Dryden, Karin (Steve) Landis of Conklin, Denise Compton of Homer, James Compton of Cortland, Rudi Compton of Killawog, and Gary Compton of Lisle. He also leaves behind his grandchildren, Marci, Kelley, and Jenny Slocum, Melissa and Jeffrey Landers, Meryl Means, Matthew, Teddy, and Casey Kemak, and Ben and Eryn Griep; sisters, Lois Nelson of Marathon, Dorothy (Don) Kenyon of Marathon, and Sandra (Gene) Nowalk of Willet; brother-in-law, Earl Kurtz of Marathon; sisters-in-law, Nancy Wheaton and Joyce Wheaton, both of Marathon; 20 step grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; several step great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was predeceased by his wife, Elisabeth H. Wheaton, in 1988; brothers Leon, Sr., Marc, Jr., and Daniel; and sisters Betty Kurtz and Jean Hubbard.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Stephen's Church, Marathon, on Friday, September 30, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Lester Smith, celebrant. Burial, with military honors, will be in Marathon Cemetery. The family will be present to receive friends at the K.L. Sharp Funeral Home, Cincinnatus, on Thursday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Paul may be directed to the Marathon Fire Department, P.O. Box 488, Marathon, NY 13803, or the American Cancer Society, 6725 Lyons St., E. Syracuse, NY 13057.