Gordon Wilford Wheeler

Gordon Wilford Wheeler, 101, of Ansonia, passed away peacefully at home on January 1, 2019. He was born on June 18, 1917 in Derby, CT to the late Henry and Mary (Sheehan) Wheeler.

Gordon is survived by his daughters Carol Lugris of Tampa, FL, and Susan Laverty of Naugatuck, CT; his sister-in-law’s Irene Wheeler of FL and Elaine and her husband Robert Holley of Southbury, CT; his grandchildren Leslie Laverty-Beattie and her husband Martin of Ansonia, CT, Christopher Lugris of Tampa, FL, and John Laverty III and his fiancée Cathy of Naugatuck, CT; his great-grandchildren Kelley Beattie and her fiancée Mark Barlow, Gina Beattie, Martina Beattie, Shawn Piampiano, Jonathan Syman, and Joshua Laverty; his great-great-grandchildren Isabella, Tyler, Devin, and Elizabeth Barlow; and many nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.

He is predeceased by his wife Dorothy (Bilsky) Wheeler; his brother Henry Wheeler; and his son-in-law Andrew Lugris.

Gordon worked for the New Haven railroad for all of his life and was part of the Railroad Historical Society. He had a true love for playing his bagpipes and love his culture. He was also a member of the East Haven Gaelic Highland Pipe Band. He was an honorary Pipe Major and in 1981 he was bestowed the honorary title of "The Father of the Regiment" by the Gold’s Dragoons, a tradition honored to its oldest member. He was a firefighter, a member of the Ansonia Rod & Gun Club and the Ansonia Historical Society. Gordon loved to fly fish and to build wooden ships. He was named “Irish Man of the Year” for 1990 for his continuation of a traditional Celtic custom as an Ancient Order of the Hibernians. He was an avid gardener and loved visiting the Cape. In life Gordon was an all-around gentleman, a loving family man, and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

A mass for Gordon will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2019 at 10AM at the Christ-Episcopal Church on 56 South Cliff St. in Ansonia.

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