Ethel Wheeler in the Robe of Achievement, 1995

Ethel Wheeler grew up in southern Florida in an active Seventh Day Baptist home where she learned the joy of the Sabbath. She attended Salem College for her higher education and was a member of the Women’s Quartet;; she also met her husband, Alton, there who was later called into the ministry. After graduating she worked in the educational field as a teacher and as a secretary. Eventually Ethel laid her career aside to help care for her growing family and her husband’s growing church. After her children were grown Ethel did return to work for many years in various departments at a state university.

Ethel was a Sabbath School teacher for many years and she was also involved in camps, many times as the head chef. She had a true love of children and cooking. Her custards to ailing church members were noteworthy, as well as whole meals arriving just in the nick of time.

She was known as a meticulous housekeeper and her unusual organizational ability. She enjoyed people and was witty and fun to be with. She was a gracious hostess on many occasions. Dedicated service workers made their home with her family and she often hosted denominational employees from out of town.

Ethel was an early member of the Beacon staff. For 10 years she was a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Sabbath Tract Society serving as treasurer from 1966-68 and assistant treasurer from 1969-73. She then became vice president and a member of the Tract Society’s Audio Visual and Advisory Committee.

She was a member and secretary of the Women’s Board. At one time she was a member of the denomination’s Young People’s Board. She was also secretary to Harry North at the SDB publishing house for many years.

Ethel was extremely dedicated to her family and very supportive of her husband. In 1950 Alton was called from his vice presidency into the presidency of General Conference because the president suddenly had to return home she supported him so everything went smoothly. She also helped when he was elected Executive Secretary of the denomination and during that time she accompanied him on two trips to Jamaica representing Seventh Day Baptists of this country. Their second trip was in 1968- the same year she was the speaker for the Women’s Banquet at Conference.

She was a delegate to the Seventh Day Baptist World Federation and attend the first session on Westerly, RI in 1971 and also in 1978 when the Federation met in Alfred, NY.

In 1971 she also accompanied her husband to Ethiopia for the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches. On that same trip they visited and worked with our SDB brethren in Malawi. During her many trips abroad, by action of the Women’s Board, Ethel represented them in her contacts with women in any of the world groups, always traveling on her own expense.