Robert Earl (Bobby) Wheeler, 82, of Mesa, AZ passed away Thursday, May 15th in Mesa, AZ. Mr. Wheeler, an entertainer / entrepreneur was born in Boomer, West Virginia. Survivors include his wife Carlotta, daughter Blenda and Chrissy, step-daughters Dee Dee, Leah, and Leslie, Sons Robert Gene, and John Paul, step-sons Brad, Greg, Curtis, and Mike, grandchildren Peary, Chaise, Megan, Ariel, Beau, Jennifer, Jessica, Janice, Jaimee, Alycia, and Amanda, and great-grandchildren Michael, Morgan, Maison, Julian, Francis, Cecelia, Abel Ryder. Mr. Wheeler was preceded in death by his parents Henry Edward and May Hampton, grandparents Harrison B, and Sabre E. Wheeler, and brother Paul Edward. A visitation will be held May 21, 2014 at 10:00am at Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery, 7900 E Main Street, Mesa, Arizona with a funeral service held immediately after at 11:00am, at 12:00pm a Celebration of Life will be held for Mr. Wheeler at Mesa East Community Recreation Hall at 225 S 74th Street in Mesa, Arizona.
Dear Carlotta, Blenda, Uncle Bobo and Bobby Jean, Curtis, Mike, and Aunt Chrissy,
My love, thoughts, and prayers go out to all of you for your loss. Grandpa Bob was an amazing man with the ability to move you with his voice and bring a smile to your face with his jokes. I know everyone would agree that his presence could fill a room and fill your heart with joy. Getting to see Grandpa Bob and Carlotta was always a special occasion for me as a young boy. I always knew he was coming because Blenda would always make it a point to make sure the house was in perfect condition, and to make sure we would be there to see him arrive. His arrival was like waiting in anticipation for some big carnival to be coming to town. I would be sitting in the window and all of a sudden I would see this big mobile home pulling up in the side of the yard. Out would jump Grandpa Bob with his cowboy boots and I would be waiting for him. With Grandpa Bob would always come his games, and I knew before long we would be sitting at a table trying to solve some new mysterious box or puzzle. I could also anticipate what would happen for the next few nights. Smoky lounges at local karaoke bars with family and friends. When your little it’s like you would enter this magical world, where everyone is dancing and singing, laughing and listening. Those are the moments you will always remember. And now that I am older, I can truly appreciate the freedom of his heart and life. Roaming the country, living freely and simply with his boots on the ground and his voice in the air.
I will always be grateful for his presence in my life, and we should all celebrate his journey that took him from sea to sea and now to a place where he can find true peace.
All my thoughts and prayers go out to you all,
Love Michael
I have known Bob and Carlotta for many years. Bob was so devoted to Carlotta and she to him. He was a man of many talents and would make you laugh, having such a great sense of humor and young at heart! I will miss my friend so very much! We have done many karaoke gigs together. Bob would do his jokes and he was a great singer. He will always be missed and loved by so many people.
R.I.P. Bobby Wheeler. I will miss you.
My thoughts and prayers go out to his loving wife Carlotta and all of the family.
In Christian love,
Bobbie J
I’m Carlota and Bobby Niece My uncle bobby was the most amazing person you will ever meet..My aunt Carlotta and uncle bobby were soulmates my uncle bobby completed my aunt carlotta My uncle bobby was such a funny guy always joking around he is going to be so missed he left us with a lifetime of memories…..
Love you aunt carlotta so much we are all here for you. love Melissa
Dear Carlotta, Chrissy, Darrin, Mike, Alycia, Gabe, Amanda, Bobby Gene, Bo Bo and Belinda, I am so sorry for our loss of dear Bob. He was always a joy to be around. I have great memories of him such as going on trips to Yosemite and Mexico and Bob and his band playing in my Junior High school talent show LOL! I especially enjoyed our visits and phone conversations of late….Bob was thoughtful and he would always remember to thank me for being, as he said, you were the “easy one”, always ready to help when we, Leslie Gail, Mike, Bo Bo, Bobby Gene, and Belinda were young children growing up. Bob will be remembered forever and Thank you Carlotta for being what Bob said was the love of his Life. Bob your joy for life and your smile will be remembered.
Bobby was such a blessing to our residents. We all strive to leave our mark on others lives as we go about our own lives… Bobbie and Carlotta, you leave us with a smile time after time. For this, we are grateful!
We will remember Bobby’s his sense of humor, warm smile and delightful entertaining style. We will miss him, but we sure are grateful that we got to know him! 🙂
Hugs to you again Carlotta!
Carlotta and family – May peace fill that empty place in your heart and may memories find their way into your mind to comfort you.
My thoughts and prayers are with all of your family. You were an amazing man Bob and especially loved father. You will be greatly missed and thought of often. Happy Father’s Day, rest in peace.
Dayna Moore
What can I say about the man that was my husband, best friend, singing partner and my everything that hasn’t already been said. You gave me 18 of the BEST years of my life. You have taught me to always strive to be the best at whatever I decide to do and that the sound can always be a little bit better (especially if it has a little more bass on it.):) I miss you mostly in the morning, afternoon and at night. I have nothing but good memories, and we were right we are truly two of the most Blessed people in the world. The outpouring of love since you have been gone has been amazing to say the least. I am so proud to say that I was your wife and singing partner for all of these years. I am clinging to my faith in the Lord and in the promise that someday I will be reunited with you “where the trees grow taller on God’s celestial shore in Heaven.” Until then sweetheart I hope I make you proud. Love, Me (Car)
I don’t have one specific memory that pops out about my Grandpa Bob, I have countless memories. Like Michael said every year as kids and then into adults we looked forward to Grandpas visits. I would save little things that I knew my dad wouldn’t get done around the house.I had to depend on my Grandpa to fix it. We would make a day of it we would run to Lowes and other shops looking for whatever it was we needed. At night we would cook dinner and listen to stories about Grandpas life and adventures. I would invite over my friends and tell them my Grandpa was in town and all off them always wanted to come over hang out, sing, and listen to him talk because that’s just the type of Grandpa he was. It didn’t matter if you were young,old, or a teen he got your attention. Weather it was with his voice or in his stories he made a mark on everyone. He is missed everyday. So I love you Grandpa til next time we visit.
It has taken me a while to muster up the strength to get on here and leave a message. Having gone through a recent horrific family tragedy, I chose to bury my head in the sand for a while before digging deep into my heart to express my sympathies about sweet Bobby. I have known Carlotta and Bobby for several years now and feel my life has been blessed immensely from having them in my life. What an amazing and dedicated couple. I am sure, so many of you felt like I did about Bobby. He reminded me so much of my late Dad as you never really wanted to let Bobby down. My voice could never compare to the incredible talent of Bobby and Carlotta, nor 90% of their followers but I tell you what, when Bobby uttered the slightest nod of approval… and he did, it was like I won the gold medal. He was the most straight forward, “tell it like it is” man I have ever known. His approval was like having my Daddy hug me again. Oh, and his humor. I have never met a man that could retain so many jokes in his head. He had the crowd rolling all the time. A natural born comedian as well as incredible country entertainer. Bobby, you will always be legendary in these parts. You will never be forgotten. Your memory will live on in the heart of the beautiful woman who shared your last 18 years. Thank you God for the gift of Bobby and Carlotta. Rock on in heaven sweet Bobby.
There are far too many favorite memories to just pick one. One of my favorite memories is coming out to Arizona to spend time with my Uncle Bobby and Aunt Carlotta. I remember going to lounges or bars to hear them sing and do karaoke. Bobby had such a soulful voice and could make the whole room laugh so hard with his jokes. I will never forgot those trips and expierices. I also remember all the times he would be in the kitchen all day cooking. He was the best cook and made vegetables actually taste good. Bobby was always on the move and couldn’t just sit around, I admired that about it him because he and my Aunt always had a good time and they were always bringing joy to others. I Miss Uncle Bobby so much and I will never forget what he always told me “Stay sweet and never change who you are”. I love you and will never forget xoxo
We came to know Bobby & Carlotta through their entertaining at our winter home in Sun Life Resort in Mesa. It was like a family relationship right from the start. Carlotta was always so kind and helped us sing on karaoke nights. Bobby was very sweet and kind. He was the kind of guy that had a thin shell around him but once you broke through that shell there was a man that is all heart. He was always so kind and friendly. He loved his wife Carlotta with all his heart. You could see it in their eyes when they looked at each other from across the room. They could communicate to each other with just a caring look. Bobby always welcomed us and appreciated the help we used to give him with loading up the equipment after their performance.
We continue to keep our prayers and thoughts going to Carlotta and her family.
Bobby was a great man and we will miss him dearly but we were so fortunate to know him and we now hold a fond memory of him forever in our hearts.
Bobby was my brother in law.I am proud to say that about him.He was so good to my little sister Carlotta.They truly had a great and loving relationship.He was so funny and had that loving heart.He was honest and spoke and told you how it was.The simple truth.My sister adored him and he adored her.The Music was so much part of him.May he live in our hearts forever. He will be miss but never forgotten.Now he is singing with the Angels in Heaven.
What can I say that has not already been said? My Brother in law Bobby was the kids d of person you could always count on for words of wisdom. He was always a straight shooter and told you like it is which for some is not always what you wanted to hear but that is what real Truth is. My twin sister Carlotta loved him with all her heart and that was enough for me!! He had a quick wit about him which we shared and one of the best senses of humor I have ever known!! One story of more than a hundred that I can remember and would like to share about Bobby is about his nickname “Grumpy” from Disney’s Snow White. My son Zach wanted a pro hockey stick so we looked on Craigslist and found one nearby. So my wife Jody and I drive to this house in Moreno Valley to pick it up and as I get to the door of the house I look down and near the door in a flower bed is this little Grumpy statue that is holding a little sign that says Welcome how long do you plan on staying? So I get the hockey stick and walk back to the car and tell Jody and we laugh and laugh because it reminds us of Bobby. Then we call Carlotta and tell her and Bobby and Bobby must have laughed about it for 5 minutes!! That is always how I will remember my Brother telling jokes and laughing. Until we meet again!! Your Brother Bill.
I wish that I could have known Bobby a whole lot more then I did. But, since I live in California and my Aunt Carlotta and Uncle Bobby live in Arizona I didn’t get to see much of them except during the holidays and special events. I do remember how funny of a guy he was though and I always knew how happy he made my Aunt. She loved him to pieces and still does. He will be greatly missed especially at Christmas. Hope your having a blast in heaven Uncle Bobby, hope we can catch up one day when I get there ;P Love Always, Shawna
Its so hard saying goodbye to someone who has been apart of ur life for 42 years hes been my pops for a life time I remember the first time we met him he help my mom with the trip to Oregon to get us all. I was 8 years old I wont say things were easy all the time we had r ups and downs thru the years heck he had 5 more children to help take care of but he did it with no ? he did the best he could I know we didn’t make it easy sometimes but thru it all he was always there for us even long after he and mom divorced he was still a big part of our life he never divorced us he always treated us as his children to and he will always be our pops he was a wonderful father and grandfather to all his children and grandchildren blood or not he loved us all and we all loved him with all of our heart u r and will always be apart of our lives pops!!!R.I.P love ya always and forever ur daughter DEEDEE
How do you say goodbye to a friend. There aren’t a whole lot of memories over these last twenty years that you and Carlotta weren’t in them. We are gonna miss your smile and your dry sense of humor. Never saw you that you didn’t have a joke or a funny story to tell us. Wayne wanted me to tell about the story of the spoon. But don’t want to hurt anyones feelings, but everytime we pick up a serving spoon we will remember you. Rest peacefully our friend we shall miss you. Your friends
Wayne & Jerri Nichols
My fondest memory of Bobby was when he sang Long Black Train, just loved it. Thank you for that. Sharon
Carlotta….Bobby left an indelible mark that will forever be a part of my life. You both did. He always was warm and friendly to me. But I will always remember him most for a song he sang for me whenever I asked him to…That song was “Old Violin”. It meant a lot to me and I can’t help but wonder if it meant more to him then I ever realized. He will not be forgotten……
The hardest task we face in life is seeing our friends and loved ones birth from this life into eternal life. To say goodby is difficult, but we can rejoice in the fact that we will be reunited in the coming future.
Bobby had a dry sense of humor that I admired. He told how things were and you knew where he stood on any subject. He never sugarcoated. In our day that was a sign of a true man.
He was very talented in music, which he dearly loved. His other love was making unusual items to market and share with family and friends.
The memories, the special times shared and just enjoying his companionship will forever be held close in my heart and thoughts. He departs from a loving family and leaves his imprint on each ones life.
As he strolls the Streets of Heaven with Jesus and other family members that preceded him, I am sure he is occupied with the wonderment that awaits our birth. Looking forward to seeing you again dear friend on the other side!
When we said good-bye in late April we never dreamed it would be forever. Such a unique, honest, caring, funny, sweet (AND salty!) man. We shared many hours over many winters in many karaoke venues in Arizona and always appreciated the talent and sheer entertainment value he brought to the party. Music was a huge part of who he was and it surely showed.
We also always got a huge kick out his body language and that famous scowl if he felt the crowd was too noisy and “his” singers weren’t getting the respect they deserved.
And, speaking of love, it was a privilege to watch Bobby and Carlotta together. Their love of music and each other was obvious and a joy to see. I pray 18 years of that love and all their wonderful memories will be a rock for Carlotta to hold on to in the time ahead.
Bobby sang about becoming “a diamond some day”. That day came far too soon, but we know he is sparkling in heaven right now – and, no doubt, causing a ruckus singing “It’s Hard to Kiss…”
God has his hands full!
Love and prayers, Mo & Bill
From the moment my Uncle Bobby was brought into my Aunt Carlotta’s life. It was an amazing journey they had together. Bobby and Carlotta brought out the best in each other. I have so many wonderful memories of Uncle Bobby, he could walk in a room and crack a joke and make everyone laugh, my aunt Carlotta loved Bobby more than life itself. They always put family first, every Christmas Eve I looked forward to them coming for their annual vist. It was always so wonderful, Uncle Bobby always was working on a new invention, he was so crafty. And when Carlotta and Bobby would sing together – it was a perfect match. They have so many wonderful friends and family who have been there for my aunt Carlotta. Bobby til we all see you again fly with angels and tell my Grandma and Dad “hello”, all my love. Missy