ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, January 16, 1996 TAG: 9601160076
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: NEWS OBIT
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA STAFF WRITER
Walter Wheaton Jr., owner of W.L. Wheaton Plumbing & Heating, died Monday of cancer. He was 70.
In 1990, Wheaton was honored by the Roanoke chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People as a black Businessman of the Year.
``I have always felt as a businessman that I have a certain responsibility to the community," Wheaton said in a 1990 interview. ``I have to give back something.''
Wheaton served on the Roanoke Board of Zoning Appeals and two terms on the state Human Rights Council - an appointment made by former Gov. Gerald Baliles.
Wheaton was actively involved in First Baptist Church, where he was a member for nearly 60 years. He was named Father of Year of the church in 1977 and was a former superintendent and teacher at the Sunday school.
He was also chairman of the board of trustees when he died and was a member of the board for 45 years.
Wheaton's wife, Audrey, said her husband was ``really interested in young people and Christian education.'' He volunteered at the YMCA Family Center to work with young people.
A veteran, Wheaton served in both the Navy and the Army and retired in 1973 as a major from the Army Reserves.
He was among the first black men to be drafted into the Navy.
At a time when it was ``understood'' that blacks could not get a plumber's license, he passed both the journeyman's and master's exams with a score of 98 percent, Wheaton said in 1990.
He owned and operated his own business for 44 years.
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