Denny D. Moller

Denny D. Moller passed away at his home on Saturday, the 21st of September 2013. He was 91. He was predeceased by the love of his life - his wife, Phyllis Moller; his sister Jane Adele; and his parents, Sarah and Fred.
He is survived by his children and their families: son, Steve Moller and his wife Lesa; grandson, Ken and granddaughter, Emily; son, Richard Moller; son, David Moller and grandson, Brian; and daughter, Nancy Gray and her husband Billy; grandson Mason; and granddaughter, Sandra Weems and her husband Chris; and great grandsons, Blayne Andrews and Colton and Ryker Weems. He is also survived by favorite friend and niece, Sarah Galey; and great niece, Anne Oitzinger.
Born in Houston on the 1st of December 1921, Denny grew up in the third ward, graduating from San Jacinto High School in 1939. He enrolled at Rice University, but like so many of the greatest generation, he found his college years disrupted by WWII. Enlisting in the Navy in December 1941, Denny became a pilot, serving in the Atlantic theatre where he survived the sinking of the aircraft carrier Block Island in 1944. Denny stayed active in the reserves until 1962, retiring as a Lt. Commander.
He returned to Houston after the war and married his sweetheart Phyllis Oetjen in 1947, a union that lasted 55 years. Denny graduated from Rice in 1948 with a BS in chemical engineering, and went to work for Gulf Oil Co., where he would spend the rest of his 35-year career. That career took him and a growing family through stops in Port Arthur, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and London, England, before finally returning to Houston in 1962. For the next 40 years, he and Phyllis provided for the rearing and education of four children, delighted in their transition to independent adults, and then happily assumed the roles of Nana and Grandaddy for their grandchildren.
Denny was an avid photographer and actively participated in the Houston Camera Club and Gulf States Camera Club Council until the day he passed. He was a member of St. Martin's Episcopal Church and served in virtually every layperson capacity over his family's 51 years with the church, most recently as the Treasurer of the Saintly Stitchers. He especially enjoyed the fellowship of the St. Martin's OPUS Group. Upon Phyllis' passing, he was accepted as one of two male members of the philanthropic Houston Assembly of Delphians Chapters, where he served as their Treasurer. He was a lifetime card (and pocket protector) carrying member of the AIChE. He also enjoyed square dancing, and he and Phyllis were affiliated with both the Westbury Squares and Cenners into their sixties. However, he was never happier than when he was behind the wheel, camera gear in tow, headed out in search of a new stand of wildflowers with his daughter Nancy or niece Sarah.
Denny lived a full and energetic life until his death. We will miss him greatly.
The family would like to express its thanks and appreciation to the physicians and staff at Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital who cared for him after he was hit by a car in January 2012, and more recently during heart related procedures in June. Many thanks also go to the family at St. Martin's who provided such an outpouring of support when he lost Mom, and to those special friends who continued to call, write, and include him in their activities. Finally, a note of thanks from all of us to our brother, Richard, who opened his home to Dad for the last ten years.
A memorial service celebrating Mr. Moller's life is to be conducted at two o'clock in the afternoon on Friday, the 11th of October, at St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road in Houston, where The Rev. Martin J. Bastian, Senior Associate Rector for Pastoral Care, is to officiate.
Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent Bagby Parish Hall.
Prior to the service, the family will have gathered for a private inurnment in the church's Garden of the Holy Cross.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that you please consider contributions to the St. Martin's OPUS Group, 717 Sage Rd., Houston, TX, 77056; or to the Houston Assembly of Delphian Chapters, at P.O. Box 42401, 77242-2401.