Doris G. Wheaton

Doris Green Wheaton, 86, of  Proctor Avenue, Ogdensburg, passed away on May 11, 2016 at home under the care of Hospice, surrounded by her family. A memorial service will be held on June 10, 2016 at 11:30 AM at the First Presbyterian Church of Ogdensburg with Rev. Laurena Wickham-Will, officiating.

Calling hours will be held at the church, from 10:00 AM until the time of the service.

She is survived by her three children, Katharine Wheaton (Jeffrey Zalusky), of Germantown, Maryland, John Wheaton (Ana Ribeiro), of Telluride, Colorado, and Paul Wheaton, of Ogdensburg; as well as five grandchildren - Joshua, Benjamin, Gregory, Simone, and Olivia. She is pre-deceased by her husband, Harry M. Wheaton and her sister, Betty Alice Green Knap of Lynbrook, NY.

Doris Jean Green was born on May 21, 1929 at Hepburn Hospital in Ogdensburg, NY, the daughter of Edna Alice Montanye and Roy Merrill Green.  She graduated from Ogdensburg Free Academy in 1947. She then went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music in 1951 and remained to earn a Master’s Degree in 1955. After graduation, she taught music at public schools in Briarcliff Manor and Rochester, New York. 

Doris returned to Ogdensburg in 1957 where she briefly taught first grade and provided private piano and voice lessons in her home. She married Harry Monroe Wheaton, Jr. on August 22, 1959 at the First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Jack Wells officiating. The couple became life-long residents of Ogdensburg where Mrs. Wheaton became very active in serving her community. She substituted in public schools as a music teacher, volunteered as a pianist and Music Director for community theater productions, and acted as the substitute organist for her church. In the 1970’s, she served as President of the Lincoln School PTA and later the Ogdensburg PTA Council and became the first elected female president of the Ogdensburg School Board. She also served on the local advisory council of St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES and the Board of Planned Parenthood of Northern New York. She was elected the first female president of the Claxton Hepburn Hospital Board and proudly served on this board for 28 years. Mrs. Wheaton represented Hepburn Hospital and St. Lawrence County on the Board of Central NY Health Systems Agency in Syracuse. She also served on the St. Lawrence County Historical Association Board of Directors and the board for PBS Educational TV and North Country Public Radio where she hosted her own interview/talk radio show on W.S.L.B.  In September, 1990, Mrs. Wheaton was one of three women given the Women of Distinction Award by Potsdam State College.  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley, The First Presbyterian Church, Ogdensburg, Claxton Hepburn Medical Center, Ogdensburg, or Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester.  Please visit the website for information on making donations to one of these organizations.

Arrangements are with O’Leary Funeral Service, Canton. Condolences may be shared online at www.olearyfuneralservice.com.

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