Isabella Wheatley

Isabella, an inspiration and spiritual guide to many around her, died peacefully and at rest in Barrington, IL on Monday, July 13, 2015. She was 90 years old. She is survived by her only son, Robert along with his wife, Kristen and daughters Heather and Peach.

Isabella’s life is defined by her dedicated service to others and their spiritual needs. For 25 years she worked hand-in-hand alongside her husband, Dr. Robert C. Wheatley, who was Pastor of Boulevard Park Presbyterian Church in Seattle, Washington until his retirement in 1990.

Isabella was born January 30, 1925 in Schenectady, New York. Her parents George and Helen Buchanan had emigrated from Glasgow, Scotland after World War I. A former draftsman in the shipyards of Glasgow, George found his future at the General Electric Company locomotive plant in Schenectady. Isabella grew up there until she left for Houghton College in upper state New York where she earned a Bachelors Degree in Botany. Upon returning home she met Robert who had found employment at General Electric as an Electrical Engineer after his discharge from the Navy at the close of World War II. They married in 1951.

A decision to pursue his Doctoral Studies in Philosophy at the renowned University of Edinburgh in Edinburgh, Scotland led Robert and Isabella there where son Robert Buchanan was born. This began a four-year odyssey of ship travel adventure back and forth between the states and Scotland until the family settled in Princeton, New Jersey so son Robert could attend school in the US.

Isabella remained the spiritual center and rock of the family through subsequent moves that brought them to St. Louis, MO in 1960. It was in St. Louis that a spiritual renaissance occurred with her husband and his decision to enter the Ministry after 10 years of teaching Philosophy and Chemistry at the high school and college level.

What followed was an amazing example of commitment and faith in God’s calling to Bob to take the helm of the church in Seattle. The family moved with all of their belongings to Seattle before he had been formally offered the position at Boulevard Park solely on the basis of faith that this is where God wanted him to Pastor.

And for the next 25 years the Bob and Isabella team labored hard and faithfully to serve the community of parishioners there, helping shape the lives and futures of hundreds of families in need. Isabella and Bob’s journey to Chicago began in 2002 when they relocated to be closer to their grand children. In 2005 they became residents at the Garlands of Barrington.

Isabella is remembered by her friends and fellow Garlands residents as a source of spiritual inspiration. She remained through her final hours the rock and steadfast beacon of belief in the Lord Jesus Christ’s love and power to transform lives.

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