Howard "Richard" Wheat

Howard ‘Richard’ WheatMr. Howard “Richard” Wheat, 65, of Dalton, departed this life Thursday evening, Jan. 15, 2008, at his home surrounded by his loving family.Richard was born Feb. 3, 1943, in Whitfield County, a son of the late Willard and Ivie Burns Wheat. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Randall Wheat.He is survived by his devoted wife of 45 years, Irene Aaron Wheat of the home; daughter and son-in-law, Erna and Curtis Dobbs of Lindale; special granddaughters, Angela Parm, Amanda and Tony Valles; other granddaughters, Nancy and Rosa Dobbs; great-grandsons, Nathan House, Taylor Parm and Antonio Valles; brothers, Jessie and Louise Wheat of Dalton and Ralph and Dot Wheat of Eton; sisters, Sue and George Morrison of Ringgold, JoAnn and Jimmy Teasley of Dalton and Darlene Pritchett of Trion; several nieces and nephews.Services to celebrate the life of Richard Wheat are today at 3 p.m. in the Melrose Chapel of Ponders Funeral Home with the Rev. Reece Fauscett and the Rev. Clint Hicks officiating. He will be laid to rest at the West Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his nephews Douglas Wheat, Ricky Wheat, Kenneth Teasley, Heath Morrison, Chad Wheat, Shawn Teasley and Matthew Pritchett. Honorary pallbearers will be members of Sheila’s Crew Team for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.The family received friends at the funeral home Saturday.You may share your thoughts and memories with the family at www.pondersfuneralhome.com.Arrangements are by family owned and operated Ponders Funeral Home, 138 Melrose Drive, Dalton; (706) 226-4002. Your selected independent funeral home.www.legacy.com