Charles Wheeler

Charles was born December 11, 1923 on Wilderbeestlaagte Farm, near to Enkeldoorn in Southern Rhodesia/Zimbabwe and was the last surviving member of his family with two older sisters, Martha and Edith, two younger brothers, Victor and Ernest and the youngest sister Elizabeth (Polly). From an early age (5) he was sent to Boarding school to begin his education at a local farm school and then to the residential school in Enkledoorn where he was mentored by “Hoffie” a teacher there who saw in him potential for higher education. He later attended Plumstead another boarding school in Salisbury/ Harare. When his mother became an Adventist, he was sent to Helderberg College in Somerset West in the Cape, along with Victor. Having graduated from Helderberg with a Business Diploma which included Shorthand and typing he then went briefly to work as business officer at Nokapele Hospital in Zambia. He married at that time and had two girls Jean and Silvia. After having an accident which necessitated him having surgery on his nose, he became inspired to be a physician, and so continued his studies at Capetown University having been accepted into the medical school there. He graduated in 1950. Having earned most of his fees by selling Christian books in the neighbouring areas. He then worked in Durban for a year, doing his internship. Moving to Lusaka, Zambia he started up a Family Practice, which continued for 10 years. His first marriage ended in 1962 and it was with deep sadness he decided to leave Lusaka and travel around the world in search of new focus and meaning. Charles and Vernette met through mutual friends shortly after arriving in Toronto in July 1964. Two years later in 1966 they met up once again, and a friendship developed into love. Charles was doing his specialty training and Vernette was teaching. The following year in 1967 They were married in Toronto. They returned to Africa on their honeymoon and Charles did six months of Surgical residency to complete his Canadian requirements for becoming an Ob Gyn. The year after their return to Canada their daughter Judith was born and then two years later Graham.
Charles loved and cherished his family to the end, with video chats to those far away and hugs and kisses to those nearby.