Diana Wheeler

Diana Wheeler, age 85, passed away on 3/19/2022. She was born on 6/24/1936 in Tucson, AZ to James and Gwendolyn Weinzapfel.

As an only child, Diana loved school and ballet. She attended the University of Arizona, where she received her degree in Education, and later became a 1 ^st grade teacher. Diana married and moved to CA and had three children that she was very proud of, Shaunna Hardesty, Frank Hardesty, and Martin Hardesty. Diana eventually moved to a citrus ranch in Vista, CA, where she raised her family and tended to their seasonal orange and lemon crops. After 20 years of marriage Diana ended the union.

Then out of the blue, she received a call from a long-time friend, Terrence Wheeler, who stated that “I’ve been looking for you”, and this friendship quickly turned into her and Terry’s love story. Diana moved to Globe, AZ to be with Terry, who she described as the love of her life, where they married and managed his cattle ranch. Diana became a grandmother when her daughter Shaunna gave birth to Emily Hardesty in 2002. Diana embraced her expanded family; Kevin Wheeler, Kit (Wheeler) Ortega, Dan Wheeler, Diane (Wheeler) Kopf, Nora (Wheeler) Green, and Eileen (Wheeler) Terry, and quickly settled into the Globe community. Diana received recognition for her years of service and support as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, where she helped children and their families in Globe, and she was a Foundation Member at the Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center.

At one point Diana held the position of President for the Gila County Cattle Women, she was involved with the Gila County Republican Club, and she was a member of the Tuesday Book Club. Diana was very close to her church community and was a lector at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Diana was an amazing wife, mother, and friend to many, she will be greatly missed.