BRIDGEWATER, Maine — Former Aroostook County sheriff and legislator Edgar Wheeler is being remembered as a kind-hearted person and a well-respected leader. Wheeler, 65, died May 14 at Bridgewater.
A graduate of Bridgewater Classical Academy’s Class of 1960, he served with the U.S. Army until 1964. He and his wife Dottie married in 1967 and raised four children.
Wheeler began a career in law enforcement in 1968. Starting as a part-time deputy, he went on to become a full-time deputy, a detective and then chief deputy under Sheriff Darrell Crandall. He was named Aroostook County Sheriff in 1983, serving 12 years in that role. In 1987, he helped establish Aroostook County Crime Stoppers, an organization which, as of November 2006, had cleared just under 350 cases, received 1,600 tips and seized $8 million in narcotics.
Wheeler served in the Maine Legislature from 1994 to 2002 and throughout the years worked in a variety of business ventures. At the time of his death, he was owner/operator of Burtchell Transport Service and a member of the Bridgewater Board of Selectmen.
Allison Lenentine, chairman of the Bridgewater board, said he considered Wheeler to be “one of his dearest friends.”
“I’ve got the highest esteem for him. He was just one great guy,” said Lenentine. “He was very dedicated. Both he and Dottie are great people as far as I’m concerned.”
County Commissioner Paul Adams of Houlton shared similar regard for Wheeler.
“He was just a really good person,” said Adams. “He did a good job running the Sheriff’s Department. It’s still a well-run department, and I think part of that is because of his history there.”
Adams said he met Wheeler in the early 1980s.
“I knew Edgar when I used to be manager of the branch bank in Mars Hill,” explained Adams. “He had bought the barrel shop up there and he was one of my first commercial customers.”
Adams, who has served with the County since 1987, also remembers Wheeler as the one who convinced him to run for County Commissioners.
“He came and asked me if I would run, and, at that time, I had no idea what a commissioner did,” admits Adams. “But Edgar helped me do the petition and everything. The rest was history.”
Over the years, Adams said they became good friends.
“He was very conscientious guy with a big heart who never wanted to hurt anybody’s feelings,” recalls Adams. “He enjoyed golfing and he was just a happy guy.”
Calling hours for Wheeler, held May 17, lasted well into the night, and at his funeral service on Friday, it was standing room only.
“The service for Edgar was very special,” said Tomi Henderson of Mars Hill, who worked with Wheeler through the Aroostook County Crime Stoppers Board. “He was a very well-respected individual as evidenced by the number of people who attended his funeral. An upright citizen, he put God first in his life, then his family, friends and country.”
