Vestavia Hills legislator David Wheeler died Wednesday morning.

The Alabama House of Representatives released the following obituary:

State Rep. David Wheeler, R-Vestavia Hills, died this morning.  He was 72.

A retired employee of Alabama Power Company, he was elected in 2018 to his first term serving House District 47 in Jefferson County.  He had qualified to run for reelection and had no opposition in the party primary election set for May.

“The people of District 47 and all of Alabama have lost a devoted servant and I’ve lost a good friend,” said Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon.  “It was rare that David came to the microphone to speak on legislation, but when he did his words carried weight.  I’ll miss him and so will the members of the House.”

Wheeler served on several House committees including Commerce and Small Business, Jefferson County Legislation, and the Local Legislation Committee.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.