Don Alan Wetzel

Don Alan Wetzel Don Alan Wetzel, age 61, of Austin Texas, died after a sudden and brief illness at Brackenridge Hospital on April 13, 2007. He was born December 14, 1945, in Gorman, Texas. He attended Westbury High School and graduated from Texas Tech University in 1968 with a B.A. in Economics. He then graduated from Baylor Law School in 1970 where he was editor of the Baylor Law Review. Don was a Captain in the U.S. Army JAG Corps during the Vietnam War and was stationed in Bangkok, Thailand. While at Ft. Eustis, he was an instructor at The Virginia Military Institute. On July 14, 1980, he was united in marriage to Pamela Gifford Fahy in Conroe, TX. Don started his law career clerking for a federal judge in Houston, TX before joining the firm of Baker & Botts. He went on to found Wetzel & Associates in The Woodlands. He was a successful civil trial attorney who had a knack for turning clients into friends and friends into family. Charles Wetzel, Don's father, was Choral Director at Westbury United Methodist Church in Houston and passed on his love for music to his son. Raised in a talented family, Don was an avid musician. A composer and collector of vintage stringed instruments, Don fostered a love of music in others. His sons Jeffery and James are carrying this legacy forward. Don also loved to travel. He owned yachts, exotic cars and planes. Yet when he was home, he reveled in his audio collection, his home theater and baseball. His true passion was helping others. Known as a bridge between opportunities for virtually anyone in need, his random acts of kindness were legendary among his many friends and family. Don is survived by his wife of 27 years, Pamela May Gifford Wetzel, parents Alma Jean and Charles Ethan Wetzel, Jr.; his children Natalie Claire Thompson, Elisabeth Carol Scott, Christopher Baylor Wetzel, Daire Allen O'Ceallag, Jeffery Alan Wetzel, Charles Laurence Fahy, Jr. and James Christian Wetzel; daughter-in-law Ronna Mansfield Wetzel; sons-in-law Timothy Thompson and Clifford Scott; and grandchildren Lori Thompson, Chandler Scott, Ashley, Autumn and Amber Wetzel and Madelyn Mansfield; brother Charles Edwin Wetzel and his wife Rebecca, and sister Nancy Lynn Birran and her husband Dale; and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 18th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, April 19th, at Lake Hills Church, 11431 FM 2244, Austin, Texas, 78738. (512) 899-8333. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Don Wetzel Memorial Scholarship Fund. Please make checks out to "Merrill Lynch" and mail to 1815 Stoneleigh Ct., Sugarland, TX 77479. We would like to thank all our family and friends for their prayers and support.