Charles Henry Wetzel Jr.'s Obituary
Charles was born on February 18, 1930, in Houston, Texas where he spent his youth with his father Charles Henry Wetzel, Sr. and his mother Mattie Ella “Lala” Smythe Wetzel. He graduated from San Jacinto High School in 1948. He began his college education at the University of Texas in Austin, then transferred to the University of Houston where he graduated with a BS in Electrical Engineering. He married his childhood sweetheart, Carolyn Ann Patterson, daughter of N. S. Patterson and Velma Howard Patterson on March 18, 1952. He and Carolyn had four children; Charles Henry Wetzel III, Carolyn Elaine “Nina” Wetzel, Julia Lynn Wetzel, and Karen Ann Wetzel during the years 1955 to 1966. He began his engineering career at Boeing in Southern California where he relocated his wife Carolyn and two infant children (Charles and Carolyn) for a few years. However, Charles and family moved back to Texas with the news of his father’s failing health. He joined Collins Radio in Richardson, Texas where he and wife Carolyn bought a house in 1959. His third and fourth children (Julia and Karen) were born in the years that followed. He tried his hand at Real Estate for a number of years, but returned to engineering after Rockwell International bought Collins Radio in 1973. He took up an assignment in Saudi Arabia designing and building communication systems with a group of expats from the USA and Europe. It was a period of time he would often recount fondly. He eventually retired from Rockwell International in the late 1980’s. He remarried in 1987 to Dawn Morphy and they settled in Carrollton, Texas. Dawn had four adult children from a previous marriage. After retirement, he continued to tinker with, design, and build electronic components in a small shop in his garage. He also built his own computer and designed and built some electronic components for customers of his son’s electrical contracting business. Additionally, he maintained his Real Estate Brokers License and helped a few family members purchase homes. Charles lived life to the fullest during his 85 years. He liked camping, boating, water skiing, swimming, snorkeling, dancing, biking, hiking and nature. He loved to travel on land, sea and air and often bragged, “I’ve been around the world three times.” Charles was a very social person and a distinguished dancer. He organized dances for the community, creating dance tapes for large parties with his dance group ‘Reel to Reel’. He was also a very compassionate person. For many years he and his wife would help other older friends that could no longer drive, assisting them to community dances and events. He is survived by: Wife; Dawn White Wetzel Four children (& spouses); Charlie (Kelly), Carolyn (Patrick), Julia (David) and Karen (Terry). Nine grandchildren (& spouses); Lelainia (Ivo), Deena (Sid), Julia (Pascal), Jacob (Christi), Clint (Holly), Nick, Hailey, Everett and Garrett Eleven great-grandchildren; Jeremiah, Aidan, Dylan, Rowan, Tyler, Connor, Logan, Lilly, Maya, Olivia and Amelie. Four step-children (& spouses); Janice (Rick), Jill, Robbie, Jodi and their children; Travis, Delaney and Jared. Memorial to be held Sept. 21, 2015 @11:00am, Rock Creek Ranch E. C. 4934 FM 1461, McKinney, TX by Pastor Robert Till of Crossroads Cowboy Church
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