Robert Ernest Wetzel, 92, of Staunton died January 20, 2011. He was born on June 12, 1918 to Frank H. Wetzel and Alice S. Wetzel in Cleveland, Ohio. He was married on September 6, 1947.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Virginia Morrison Wetzel; two sons, Robert E. Wetzel Jr. and his wife, Suzanne, and Herbert Morrison Wetzel and his wife, Camilla; grandchildren, Emily Wetzel Bhatta and her husband, Cpt. David Kenneth Bhatta, and Eric Paul, Robert Lewis, Thomas Michael and Caroline Elizabeth Wetzel; great-granddaughters, Addison Pace Bhatta and Harper Rae Bhatta; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by four brothers and a sister.
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Mr. Wetzel served in the U.S Army Air Force during World War II in the China-Burma-India Theater. Following separation from the Army, Mr. Wetzel moved to Staunton with George Worthington Hardware Co. and in 1952 became a financial planner with Investors Diversified Services. He retired in 1993.
Mr. Wetzel was a founding and devoted member of Covenant Presbyterian Church, where he held many leadership positions. He also enjoyed an active civic life in Staunton, including a long membership in Staunton Rotary Club, during which time he became a Paul Harris Fellow, the Salvation Army Advisory Board, the YMCA Board and the King’s Daughters’ Hospital Board.
A memorial service was conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 24, at Covenant Presbyterian Church. Friends were greeted at the church following the service.