Mr. and Mrs. Daniel B. Wharton and Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Lee established an unrestricted fund in honor of Mr. Wharton's and Mrs. Lee's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gilmer Wharton, on the occasion of their fiftieth anniversary. The Mr. and Mrs. Gilmer S. Wharton Anniversary Fund is used by the Foundation to support projects of special importance to the community.

Both Gilmer and Gertrude Wharton are Parkersburg natives. Mr. Wharton was a founder of the present Wharton Cadillac/Oldsmobile/Jeep/Nissan automotive dealership. Mr. and Mrs. Wharton are the parents of Dan Wharton and Dolores Lee.

Mr. Wharton was one of two founders of what is now Wharton Cadillac Oldsmobile/Jeep/Nissan. He built the family business from the ground up with partner Harold Hupp in the late 1940's and later noted with pride that three generations of his family served customers from the Seventh Street location.

Mr. Wharton was born and raised on a farm off Old St. Marys Pike in Parkersburg, and never stopped being an "ol' country boy" at heart. Even in his later years, he could be found riding a tractor and working on his farm in rural Ohio. Dan Wharton stated, "He was a wonderful father who taught me to treat people fairly and honestly." Mr. Wharton was a US Army veteran of World War II, having served with the 103rd Division in both Italy and southern Germany from 1943-1945. He was a member of the Parkersburg Moose Lodge, Elks Club 198, American Legion Post 15, Pioneer Antique Automobile Club, St. Andrews United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Men.