Jerry was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on October 17, 1942 to James and Kaytherine Magness. Jerry grew up in Colton, California attending grade schools, Colton Jr. High and graduating from Colton High School in June, 1961. He was an outstanding varsity baseball pitcher for Colton High.
He married his high school sweetheart, Karen Vaughn in 1966 and together they had 2 girls, Leslie Wheeler and Kristin Bryant. They have four grandchildren, Andrew Wheeler, Jordan Wheeler, Morgan Wheeler and Ian Bryant.
Jerry attended and graduated from San Bernardino Valley College, Cal Poly Pomona and Azusa Pacific where he earned his BS and MS degrees. He taught at Eisenhower High School and Aquinas High School. He coached baseball at San Bernardino Valley College, Cal State University San Bernardino and Chaffey College. Jerry retired from teaching and coaching in 2006.
Jerry’s hobbies and interests included his love baseball, the beach, coaching his girls in softball, being with his family, collecting model cars and listening to 50’s and 60’s oldies but goodies and good ol’ Rock and Roll music.
He was a member of the 1954 Colton Lion’s Little League All-Star Team that went to play in the 1954 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. He and his 1954 Little League teammates were inducted into the City of Colton Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.
Services will be held at the Montecito Cemetery, Friday, June 6th at 1:30 p.m.