Deborah J. Wheaton

SAGINAW – Debbie Wheaton of Saginaw, MI passed away on February 24, 2019 at McLaren Hospital in Flint, MI following a long illness.
She was born December 1, 1953 in Petoskey, MI to Robert and Roe (nee Long) Wheaton of Moran. Ms. Wheaton grew up in Moran, where her parents owned and operated and appliance store and Rose's Pasty Shop for many years. She graduated from Rudyard Highschool in 1971, and afterward moved to Traverse City at age 17 in pursuit of work. She hired in at then known as Michigan Bell Telephone Company in 1972 as an operator and worked up to a clerical position where she retired in May of 2002 after 30 years of service at AT&T.

Ms. Wheaton lived in Traverse City for 46 years and had recently moved to Saginaw to live with her brother and family. Ms. Wheaton loved to spend time with family and friends and treasured each one. She also loved her furry friends, a shiba inu dog named Trixie and three adopted cats; Angel, Tabby, and Skittles, that she owned for many years. She liked to go for long rides and dine-out frequently. She especially enjoyed the Big Boy in Traverse City for good food and the friendly staff.
In earlier years, she enjoyed volunteering at the Father Fred organization, the Big Sister program and ringing the bell at Christmas time for the Salvation Army. Her faith was very important to her. She attended confirmation class at the Zion Lutheran Church in Allenville as a teenager and partnered with Joyce Meyer ministries for many years. Debbie always saw the good in every person and maintained that attribute throughout her life.

Ms. Wheaton is survived by one brother, Thomas (Maria) Wheaton, Saginaw, three sisters; Pamela (Gordon) Woods, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, Irene Wheaton and Gary Deneau, Sault Ste. Marie, MI, and Amy (Daniel) Christensen, Moran, as well as many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Ms. Wheaton was preceded in death by three brothers; Robert, Ronald, and James Wheaton, a niece Darlene Wheaton of Matteson, IL, and all of her beloved pets.

A Celebration of Deborah's life will take place at 11:00 am on Saturday, July 13, 2019 at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Deborah will be laid to rest at Brevort Township Cemetery in Allenville, MI.