Former Elkin Fire Chief Tommy Wheeler.
Elkin Town Commissioner Tommy Wheeler passed away on Aug. 14. Wheeler had served on the town board since 2016 as was Elkin Fire Chief for 21 years.
“The Town of Elkin was saddened to hear of the passing of Retired Fire Chief and Town Commissioner Tommy Wheeler,” reads a statement posted by the town. “Tommy was a long time public servant to the Town of Elkin and this community. He was known as a leader and as a friend and will be greatly missed by all. The Mayor and Board of Commissioners and the employees of the Town of Elkin would like to send our heartfelt condolences to his family; know our thoughts and prayers are with you.”
Wheeler was a dedicated public servant with 41 total years of service with the Elkin Fire Department. He also served as a magistrate for Surry County for 26 years and manager of the Elkin pool for 14 seasons. Wheeler was a member of the Elkin Masonic Lodge #454 AF&AM where he served as past master, a charter member of the Elkin-Jonesville Shrine Club and a 32 degree Scottish Rite Mason. In addition to serving as an Elkin town commissioner he was also a board member of the Yadkin Valley Sewer Authority. A member of Elkin Presbyterian Church, Wheeler served as an Elder and a member of the church choir.
A memorial service honoring his life was held at Elkin Presbyterian on Saturday.
Earlier this year Wheeler’s granddaughter Jessica Luffman collected signatures around the community to name something in Elkin in Wheeler’s honor.
At its July meeting, the town board voted to name the proposed new fire station in Commissioner Wheeler’s honor. The town is in the process of applying for grant funding to build a new fire station.