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Name: WHEELER, Myra, Mrs
Profession: Owned Mawingo estate on Mt Kenya. Rich widow from Pasadena, California
Area: Nanyuki
Children: Hannah Prince
Book Reference: Rundgren, Second Wheel
General Information:
She was the partner of Eric Sydney Percy Smith.She was from San Francisco. He died in a bar fight in France.
https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1997/04/20/africa-where-the-wild-things-are-safari-for-sophisticates/ The colorful colonel died in a bar fight in France a couple of years later. Along came Rhoda Lewisohn, a wealthy New Yorker. While on safari in Kenya, she met and fell in love with Gabriel Prud'homme, a dashing aviator from France. Rhoda and Gabriel went househunting in Kenya and called on the widow Wheeler to see if she would part with her dream house. Myra agreed to sell _ on condition that Gabriel go fetch Percy's ashes in France. He did, and in 1938, as the deal closed, Gabriel flew Myra over Mount Kenya so that she could scatter her late husband's remains to the African winds. And then, in 1947, Gabriel died in a flying accident in Sudan. Rhoda retired to California. Soon after, the property was sold at auction to an African hotelier who turned it into a country hotel, the Mawingo.
Rundgren - Eric Rundgren was grateful to Smith who took him to meet Mrs Wheeler, his rich American friend, at her 700 acre estate outside Nanyuki on the slopes of Mt. Kenya. The place was called Mwinga [Mawingo], and it opened Rundgren's eyes to some of the sophisticated facts of life. Percy Smith had come with Mrs Wheeler from India, bringing with them a magnificent tent, an elaborate affair with a verandah, cedar flooring, lined throughout with yellow silk and draped with Persian carpets and rare tapestries. With Mrs Wheeler was her attractive daughter, Hannah Prince, whom Rundgren adored at a distance. And there were two pet cheetahs which added a touch of almost barbaric splendour. Rundsgren took to going to Mwinga for week-ends. Later it was for the whole of his annual month's leave. Mrs Wheeler was relaxed, gay and broad-minded. Mrs Wheeler asked Rundgren to work for her full time as her estate and business manager.
https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1997/04/20/africa-where-the-wild-things-are-safari-for-sophisticates/ The colorful colonel died in a bar fight in France a couple of years later. Along came Rhoda Lewisohn, a wealthy New Yorker. While on safari in Kenya, she met and fell in love with Gabriel Prud'homme, a dashing aviator from France. Rhoda and Gabriel went househunting in Kenya and called on the widow Wheeler to see if she would part with her dream house. Myra agreed to sell _ on condition that Gabriel go fetch Percy's ashes in France. He did, and in 1938, as the deal closed, Gabriel flew Myra over Mount Kenya so that she could scatter her late husband's remains to the African winds. And then, in 1947, Gabriel died in a flying accident in Sudan. Rhoda retired to California. Soon after, the property was sold at auction to an African hotelier who turned it into a country hotel, the Mawingo.
Rundgren - Eric Rundgren was grateful to Smith who took him to meet Mrs Wheeler, his rich American friend, at her 700 acre estate outside Nanyuki on the slopes of Mt. Kenya. The place was called Mwinga [Mawingo], and it opened Rundgren's eyes to some of the sophisticated facts of life. Percy Smith had come with Mrs Wheeler from India, bringing with them a magnificent tent, an elaborate affair with a verandah, cedar flooring, lined throughout with yellow silk and draped with Persian carpets and rare tapestries. With Mrs Wheeler was her attractive daughter, Hannah Prince, whom Rundgren adored at a distance. And there were two pet cheetahs which added a touch of almost barbaric splendour. Rundsgren took to going to Mwinga for week-ends. Later it was for the whole of his annual month's leave. Mrs Wheeler was relaxed, gay and broad-minded. Mrs Wheeler asked Rundgren to work for her full time as her estate and business manager.
Percy Smith died suddenly in England leaving Mrs Wheeler heart-broken. She quickly lost interest in the place and she and her daughter left.
Second Wheel - "In fact, the then Mawingo Hotel was built on land originally acquired by Raymond Hook for one Colonel 'Bongo' Smith. Bongo Smith had come out to Kenya to capture a rare bongo, and he needed a base. He had a charming companion, an American lady by the name of Wheeler: Mrs Myra Wheeler, I believe. They set up a charming home amidst the forests of Mount Kenya, which was to house the captured bongo. Bongo Smith was a penniless English gentleman. His lady, Mrs Wheeler, was a wealthy Californian. After several years of catching bongo and not catching bongo, Smith died. Mrs Wheeler sold the lovely place to Monsieur and Madame Prudhomme. ……….