Burnell M. Wetzel

Burnell M. Wetzel HIGHMOUNT/YORK Burnell M. ''Ben'' Wetzel, 82, died at 9:04 p.m. Monday, July 31, 2006, at York Hospital. He was the husband of Anna E. (Taylor) Wetzel. Mr. and Mrs. Wetzel would have observed their 61st wedding anniversary on August 11, 2006. Born October 6, 1923, in Hanover, he was the son of the late Paul H. and Effie M. (Warner) Wetzel. Mr. Wetzel was a 1941 graduate of Eichelberger High School and a graduate of Bliss Electrical School in Tacoma Park, Md. He retired in 1986 as a customer engineer from IBM with 38 years of service to the company. He served in the 1081st Signal Corps of the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, where he saw action in North Africa and Italy. Ben was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Wrightsville, the Abel-Poff-Leithiser American Legion Post 469, and the Kreutz Creek Valley VFW Post 7045. He was a former member of the Wrightsville and Kreutz Creek Lions Clubs. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, Ronald B. and his wife, Lucy Wetzel of Pittsburgh, Philip K. and his wife, Debra Wetzel of Falling Waters, W.Va., and Stephen A. and his wife, Catherine Wetzel of Harrisburg; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a sister, Nadine Hamm. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 243 Hellam St., Wrightsville, with his pastor, the Rev. David A. Rike, officiating. Burial will be in St. Jacob's Stone Church Cemetery with military graveside services by the York County Veterans Honor Guard. A visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church. The Etzweiler Funeral Home, Inc., 700 Hellam St., Wrightsville, is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Memorial Fund of Trinity Lutheran Church, 243 Hellam St., Wrightsville, PA 17368. www.etzweiler.com