Topsham, VT Merton (Mert) Henry Wheeler, 92, of Topsham, VT died Monday December 19, 2016 at UVM Medical Center. Merton was born in Calais, VT on November 14, 1924, the son of Joel & Hilda (Brazier) Wheeler. As a boy, he attended Maple Corners School in Calais, and began working on the family dairy farm. On August 14, 1948, he married Edith Phelps in Waterbury, VT. They had four children together: Joel, Louise, Wendell, and Lauralee (Lolly). He was predeceased by his wife, Edith on July 4, 2000, and son, Wendell on Sept. 8, 2005. Merton owned a dairy farm in Calais for many years, then worked as a farmhand at several locations, finally settling in Whately, MA where he worked for the Packaging Corporation of America in Northampton, MA. In 1990, he retired after 29 years of service. In 1994, he and Edith returned to Vermont and settled on their "Mountain Top" in Waits River, where he continued to garden and log until the end of his life. Merton was a WWII Veteran, serving Nov 1945 – July 1947 in the U.S. Army 519th CO B MP in Japan. Merton Wheeler received his Montpelier High School diploma in 2006, more than half a century after he chose to serve his country in World War II. He was also an active member of the Northeast Fiddlers Association, Inc. Merton loved dancing, tending to his garden, walking through the trees in his woods, and caring for the birds that visited his front deck every morning. Most of all, he loved his family. Merton is survived by a son, Joel Wheeler of Monson, MA; two daughters, Louise Richards, of Idaho Springs, CO; Lolly Wright of Mebane, NC; sister, Mary Sanders of NH; as well as seven grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and a niece and two nephews. He is also survived by his best friend and companion, Barbara Stalling of East Montpelier and her children and grandchildren who loved him as their own. A Memorial Service will be held at Guare & Sons Funeral Home, 30 School Street, Montpelier on Saturday January 7th, 2017 at 11am. Burial with Military honors will occur in the Springtime at Plain-Mont Cemetery. In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorial contributions may be made in honor of Merton Wheeler to the Northeast Fiddlers Association, Inc. c/o Maxine Young, Treasurer, 230 Russell Rd, Tunbridge, VT 05077. On-line condolences may be sent to www.guareandsons.com;