Joseph Latham "Joe" Wheeler
November 12, 1963 ~ March 29, 2024
Joseph Latham Wheeler, “Joe”, 60, of Bushwood, MD, passed away on March 29, 2024. Born on November 12, 1963 in Leonardtown, MD, he was the son of the late James Leonard Wheeler and the late Agnes Cecilia Wheeler. Joe is survived by his wife, Ann Wheeler, of Bushwood, MD, whom he married on May 10, 2008 in Avenue, MD, his sons Ryan Wheeler of Clements, MD, Danny Hazell of Ardmore, PA, and Joseph Hazell of Huntingtown, MD, his sisters, Betty Ann Riffle (Pat), Debbie Hall (Mike), Theresa McKinney (Ricky), and Mary Kennett (George), his granddaughter, Ella Hazell, his cherished goddaughters, Katie Hunt, Laura Woodburn, and Tiffany McKinney, many nieces and nephews, his closest friends, Jeffrey and Kathy Kreps, Andy and Renee Lettau, and Juliet and Rich Brown, as well as his faithful, four-legged companions, Parker, King, and Misty. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Barbara McKay, his faithful dog of 19 years, Taco, and Sammy of eight and a half years.
Joe worked at Precise Systems as a Security Guard with the Presidential Helicopter PMA-274 program for five years. He was also a member of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff's Office for 23 years, retiring in 2010. Joe loved the water, and he enjoyed fishing, crabbing, gardening, camping, and watching sunsets. His pride and joy was his 2021 2320 Pilot House Parker boat.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, April 4, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD, where a funeral service will be held in the funeral home chapel at 6:00 PM with Chaplain George Kinnett officiating. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Seventh Dist. Vol. Fire Department, P.O. Box 206, Avenue, MD 20609 and/or the Seventh Dist. Vol. Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 7, Avenue, MD.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.mgfh.com.
Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home and Cremation Services, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Photo Gallery
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
RIP Brother Joe. prayers and hugs for family and friends. Scott Mclane
deeply sorry for your loss…
First, my condolences to Joes Family during this hard time. This is very shocking news for all of us. I worked with Joe during Sheriff office days (on the same squad) and down at St Marys College. I would like to share something silly Joe had done that i have been thinking about over and over during this sad time in hopes of a little cheer up. ill keep it short, One day while working down at college i was in office doing some paperwork. Joe walked in and was talking to me, i couldnt focus on what he was saying because of a buzzin noise in his pocket, i said “Joe you gonna answer your phone” hes reply “thats not my phone, thats my BEES!” shocked as i watched him pull out a handful of black and yellow bumble bees, me speechless as he explained how some with yellow heads sting and ones with black heads will not. Told me he had a hard time telling until it was “too late” i laughed, he laughed. I can picture him in a field trying to catch BEES and shove them in his pocket 🙂 Joe you will be missed, thank you for all the laughs, the stories and you just being you. – Josh S.
Brother Joe is always in my heart, with a honeybun and a Pepsi.
I am so sorry for your loss. Joe was always so sweet and nice to me. I know he will be greatly missed. Sending lots of love and prayers to you all. Kathy Wheeler
My thoughts and prayers go out to Joe’s family and friends.
My condolences to the Wheeler family. I had the opportunity to work with Joe at SMCDC and became friends. We constantly shared jokes just to make each other laugh. I never saw Joe in a bad mood he was always smiling. Joe my friend you will be missed.
A lot of years have passed since I was a teenager and Joe was a tow-head toddler. Living just across the road, I had the pleasure of babysitting occasionally for the large Wheeler family. Like a lot of kids in the “Crossroads” area, Joe had a nickname, and he was called “Boydee.” I have no idea where or how that nickname originated. Boydee was a go-getter, but a lot quieter and less adventurous than his older brother. Boydee was fortunate to have sisters who were not only his playmates, but also served as “in-house mamas” too. The Wheeler family believed in hard work but they also knew how to play when the chores were done: croquet, cards/pitch, baseball, and pony rides. Boydee’s mom always had a pot of something on the stove whether it was soup, cabbage, kale or whatever seafood happened to be in season. What a pleasure it was to visit even long after I had moved away! Boydee transitioned to Joe somewhere in the growing up stage and Joe is how most people know him today. To the Wheeler family: you have so many memories and fun times to recall and to remember and to smile and to laugh. Joe will be a missing branch on the family tree. Treasure your memories, and while time may heal some tears, he will always remain close by in your hearts and remembered at family gatherings. Blessings to the Wheeler Family….Joyce Sandidge Norris.
Oh dear Boydie – I can see you in my mind as a child, when all of us would come over to see all of you! We LOVED it there on the Farm and whether it was playing or working, we just had the best time. Of course, you were a little Rascal, but we always had fun together, even weeding and ‘stripping tips’ or eating watermelons outside and Sunday dinners.
Unfortunately, life does get in the way as we get older and become responsible people. When we did get together though, you have always been a happy sight to see and I loved those big hugs and that smile from ear to ear.
Thank you so much for those wonderful memories of when we were kids and later, those hugs. Denny and I will miss you so much and family gatherings won’t quite be the same in the future. But it’s not good-bye…lets just make it ‘so long’ for now.
Our sincere condolences go out to Joe’s family. When I met Joe, over 20 years ago, he had a goal and a plan. Over the years he faced obstacles and serious setbacks, but didn’t lose sight of his dream, which he finally realized over the past few years with the help of his wife, Ann.
We enjoyed talking about gardening (he was an amazing gardner), ospreys, crabs and oysters, and….meeting up at auctions. He was also a really good nature photographer, capturing scenes depicting southern MD.
Joe was a good friend, we will miss him.
Juliet and Rich
Was sorry to hear the loss of Wheeler, is was such a good person we had some good memories of working together at the jail, he will be greatly missed. Rest in peace.🙏