Howard Wentworth Wheeler Jr., a retired salesman and lacrosse fan, died May 28 of complications from heart and lung failure at his Annapolis home. He was 68.
Mr. Wheeler, the son of an architect and a homemaker, was born in Baltimore and raised in Severna Park.
He was a 1959 graduate of the Severn School, where he played varsity lacrosse and football. He attended the University of Maryland, College Park, where he also played lacrosse.
During the early 1960s, he served in the Army at Fort Hood, Texas, where he earned the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Ribbon and Marksman Badges.
Mr. Wheeler traveled the East Coast and Midwest during the 1970s and 1980s selling a variety of items on college campuses and at ethnic festivals and community fairs.
He later opened several Salsa stores, which he owned and operated in Muncie, Ind., for a decade before moving to Annapolis in 2000, where he continued working in home improvement and retail sales.
He played for the Olde Severna Park Bengals of the U.S. Club Lacrosse Association and was a board member and later president of the organization in 1974-1975.
Mr. Wheeler enjoyed attending Severn School reunions and meetings of the Severna Park Old Timers.
He was a genealogist and a Terrapins, Orioles, Ravens and New York Yankees fan.
A memorial gathering was held Thursday.
Surviving are a brother, Richard S. Wheeler of the United Arab Emirates; two sisters, Judith W. O'Malley of Severna Park and Janice K. Wheeler of Baltimore; and several nieces and nephews.
