ABOVE: Orlando native Betty Wheeler at Saint James Cathedral in downtown Orlando March 18th, 2011.
Elizabeth Cangelose was born just down the street from St. James at Orlando General Hospital on Orange Avenue. It was wartime and her mother, Corrie Rhodes Cangelose, was living in College Park with Betty’s grandparents, Samuel and Hattie Rhodes, while her father, Joseph J. Cangelose, served in WWII.
Betty Wheeler’s family has a history of military service. Her great-great-great-great grandfather, John Chapman (1746-1803), fought in the Revolutionary War and is on Georgia’s Roster of the Revolution as having served in the Battalion of Minute Men. He was awarded 300 acres in Wilkes County by the Georgia Legislature. Her grandmother’s father, William Collier Barksdale (1834-1901) of Warren County, fought for the south in the Civil War with Company D (“McDuffie Rifles”), 5th Georgia Infantry Regiment. Her grandfather’s father, William Chapman “Billie” Rhodes (1844-1928), also fought in that war. Her grandfather’s uncle, William C. Chapman (1833-1863), fought at Gettysburg with the Third Regiment Georgia Volunteers and died at the battle at Manassas Gap in late July 1863.
When her father returned to Orlando after WWII the Cangelose family moved to Colonialtown off Bumby. Betty remembers they still made regular visits to her grandparents at 3 East Winter Park Avenue in College Park. Betty attended Fern Creek Elementary School and recalls the Colonial area when it was a neighborhood pasture for T.G. Lee Dairy cows before the days of I-4, Disney and Martin Marietta.
In this interview Elizabeth Cangelose Wheeler shares her happy memories of attending St. James with her father as a girl and going to the drugstore fountain downtown after Mass for breakfast. She describes an active and thriving downtown with nice department stores for shopping such as Ivey’s, Dickson & Ives, Gibbs-Louis, Sears and J CP enney’s.
LISTEN (17:29)
Elizabeth Wheeler moved back to Orlando as an adult after law school in the 1980’s and returned to St. James Cathedral. Her oldest daughter Karen was confirmed at St. James and in 2003 Karen Roberts was married at St. James.
An appellate attorney by profession, Betty Wheeler also serves her community as a Lector, Eucharistic Minister, and is one of the current Directors of Outreach Love. She says, “Meeting with children from underprivileged areas with Outreach Love, is a very important part of my life.”
Outreach Love is a faith based tutoring organization founded by Beverly Gawlik of St. James Cathedral dedicated to helping underprivileged children in the downtown Orlando area.
Ms. Wheeler reflects on how as you get older you realize what is important in life. She shares how St. James has become more meaningful to her as she has become more involved in the ministries. She says, “I feel so very grateful and fortunate to be a part of St. James, a caring, friendly, loving community.”
Peruse the Images below under Attachments and read the descriptions.
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Betty and Corrie Cangelose at Lake Eola, 1945
1945 photo of Orlando native Betty Cangelose (Wheeler) with her mother, Corrie Cangelose, at Lake Eola. These photos were sent overseas to her...
Betty and Corrie Cangelose at Lake Eola, 1945
1945 photo of 6 month old Orlando native Betty Cangelose (Wheeler) with her mother, Corrie Cangelose, at Lake Eola. These photos were sent...
Betty and Corrie Cangelose at Lake Eola, 1945
1945 photo of Orlando native Betty Cangelose (Wheeler) with her mother, Corrie Cangelose, at Lake Eola. These photos were sent overseas to her...
College Park, circa 1950
Photo of Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes College Park home at the corner of 3 East Winter Park Avenue and Depauw, circa 1950. Granddaughter...
Betty Wheeler, St. James Parishioner
Interview with Orlando native Betty Wheeler at Saint James Cathedral in downtown Orlando March 18th, 2011. Elizabeth Cangelose was born just down...
Joe Cangelose
November 3rd, 1997 Orlando Sentinel obituary article on Joseph J. Cangelose detailing his service to the Orlando community and to our country. Cangelose...
Joe Cangelose, Supervisory Auditor at the Naval Training Center
December 22, 1981 article from the NAV-A-GATOR, on Joe Cangelose's three service career at the Naval Training Center in Orlando. Joseph J. Cangelose...
Interview with Orlando native Betty Wheeler at Saint James Cathedral in downtown Orlando March 18th, 2011.
Elizabeth Cangelose was born just down the street from St. James at Orlando General Hospital on Orange Avenue. It was wartime and her mother, Corrie Rhodes Cangelose, was living in College Park with Betty's grandparents, Samuel and Hattie Rhodes, while her father, Joseph J. Cangelose, served in WWII.
Betty Wheeler's family has a history of military service. Her great-great-great-great grandfather, John Chapman (1746-1803), fought in the Revolutionary War and is on Georgia's Roster of the Revolution as having served in the Battalion of Minute Men. He was awarded 300 acres in Wilkes County by the Georgia Legislature. Her grandmother's father, William Collier Barksdale (1834-1901) of Warren County, fought for the south in the Civil War with Company D ("McDuffie Rifles"), 5th Georgia Infantry Regiment. Her grandfather's father, William Chapman "Billie" Rhodes (1844-1928), also fought in that war. Her grandfather's uncle, William C. Chapman (1833-1863), fought at Gettysburg with the Third Regiment Georgia Volunteers and died at the battle at Manassas Gap in late July 1863.
When her father returned to Orlando after WWII the Cangelose family moved to Colonialtown off Bumby. Betty remembers they still made regular visits to her grandparents at 3 East Winter Park Avenue in College Park. Betty attended Fern Creek Elementary School and recalls the Colonial area when it was a neighborhood pasture for T.G. Lee Dairy before the days of I-4, Disney and Martin Marietta.
In this interview Elizabeth Cangelose Wheeler shares her happy memories of attending St. James with her father as a girl and going to the drugstore fountain downtown after Mass for breakfast. She describes an active and thriving downtown with nice department stores for shopping such as Ivey's, Dickson & Ives, Gibbs-Louis, Sears and JC Penny's.
Elizabeth Wheeler moved back to Orlando as an adult after law school in the 1980's and returned to St. James Cathedral. Her oldest daughter Karen was confirmed at St. James and in 2003 Karen Roberts was married at St. James.
An appellate attorney by profession, Betty Wheeler also serves her community as a Lector, Eucharistic Minister, and is one of the current Directors of Outreach Love. She says, "Meeting with children from underprivilged areas with Outreach Love, is a very important part of my life."
Outreach Love is a faith based tutoring organization founded by Beverly Gawlik of St. James Cathedral dedicated to helping underprivileged children in the downtown Orlando area.
Ms. Wheeler reflects on how as you get older you realize what is important in life. She shares how St. James has become more meaningful to her as she has become more involved in the ministries. She says, "I feel so very grateful and fortunate to be a part of St. James, a caring, friendly, loving community."
