Wheldon mourned at funeral
ByReuters
Updated 22/10/2011 at 19:36 GMT
British racing car driver Dan Wheldon was remembered at his funeral on Saturday as a loving husband, father and brother as well as a champion in his sport.
Pallbearers, including IndyCar drivers Tony Kanaan (L), Scott Dixon (third L) and Dario Franchitti (4th R) carry the casket of fellow driver Dan Wheldon as they escort Susie Wheldon (3rd R), Clive Wheldon and Ashley Wheldon (R) from the church during a fu
Image credit: Reuters
Wheldon, 33, was killed on October 16 in a 15-car crash during an IndyCar race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
"You were a true lionheart, my love. Thank you for sharing your love and your life with me," his wife Susie wrote in a letter to her husband which was read for her at the service.
"Those of us who have known Dan have been robbed of a rare treasure," Wheldon's friend Adrian Sussmann said.
"Dan just loved people and they loved him back," Sussman added.
The service was held at the First Presbyterian Church in St.
Petersburg, where the Weldons lived with their two sons, Sebastian, two, and Oliver, seven months.
A church official estimated nearly 1,000 people attended including members of the public who were invited by Wheldon's wife.
"I felt I had to come and pay my respects," Keith Johnson of Orlando, Florida said as he waited in line to get into the church.
"We felt he was a neighbour. He represented so much of what was right about the sport," Robert Frank of St. Petersburg said as he waited with his wife Rita.
Wheldon, who grew up in Emberton, England, won the Indianapolis 500 race twice, including this year.
"I know my brother was born to race and born to win," his sister Holly said in a letter read for her by driver Scott Dixon, one of Wheldon's team mates.
Dixon was one of the pallbearers with fellow drivers Tony Kanaan and Dario Franchitti and Wheldon's three brothers, Austen, Elliott and Ashley.
Wynonna Judd, the sister of Franchitti's wife Ashley Judd, sang "Amazing Grace" during the service.
A public memorial service will be held for Wheldon on Sunday in Indianapolis by the IndyCar organisation.
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