Paul Wassenich

Family-Placed Obituary

Paul Wassenich Paul Wassenich, 93, Professor Emeritus of Religion at TCU, died Friday, January 21, 2005, in Fort Worth. The documentation of his life is impressive but pales in comparison to the essence of his soul. He stood up for broad issues, such as his support for the civil rights movement in the 1960s, but took equally seriously the needs of individuals. Paul Wassenich was born in Houston on September 20, 1911, the son of Louis and Madge Green Wassenich. Raised in Beaumont, he graduated from Beaumont High School in 1928 and from TCU in 1934. He received graduate degrees from the University of Texas at Austin in 1936 and from the University of Chicago Divinity School in 1938 and 1939. TCU awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Laws in 1954. He married Ruth Siegfried in Ohio in 1938; they had three sons. Paul was ordained in the ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Fort Worth at University Church in 1935. After serving at churches in Ohio and Michigan, he was called by leaders in his denomination to teach at the university level. Beginning in 1946, he taught for 11 years in the Texas Bible Chair at the University of Texas at Austin. He was also the founding pastor of University Christian Church in Austin, on W. 21st St., 1946-47. In 1957, he joined the faculty at TCU where he taught in the Department of Religion. He was selected as "Outstanding Professor" in his first year. In 1965 he became full professor. In 1962, he founded the Honors Program at TCU, which continues today. In 1996, the Honors Program established the "Wassenich Founders Award," given each year to an outstanding senior Honors student. After teaching at TCU for 19 years, he retired in 1976 to travel, raise peaches, and teach in various churches. Paul was a member and Elder Emeritus of South Hills Christian Church for 44 years. In 1965, Dr. and Mrs. Quentin E. Barber, friends devoted to Christian higher education, established the Paul and Ruth Wassenich Disciples Scholarship at TCU. Survivors: Ruth, wife of 66 years, of Fort Worth; sons, Mark and wife Linda of Dallas; Tom and wife Dianne of San Marcos; James (Red) and wife Karen Pavelka of Austin; grandsons, Paul M. of Washington, D.C., and David of Dallas; sister, Marguerite Ezell of Macon, Ga.; three nieces in Georgia; sister-in-law, Ruth B. Wassenich of Buchanan Dam; and nephew, Lloyd Wassenich of Houston. A memorial service will be held Friday, January 28, 3:00, in Fort Worth at the Robert Carr Chapel on the campus of TCU with Dr. Ronald Flowers and Dr. Kenneth Lawrence officiating. Should friends desire, contributions may be made to the Paul and Ruth Wassenich Disciples Scholarship Fund, TCU, Box 297044, Fort Worth, TX 76129.