David Vilander Wiltschko

February 5, 1949 – March 2, 2012

David Wiltschko, 63, of College Station, passed away on Friday, March 2, 2012 in Bryan/College Station, Texas. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 6, at Congregation Beth Shalom, 101 N. Coulter in Bryan. Graveside services will follow in Bryan City Cemetery.

David was born to William and Virginia (Vilander) Wiltschko on February 5, 1949, in Portland, Oregon. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Rochester in New York and his doctorate at Brown University in Rhode Island. He was a professor at University of Michigan then moved to College Station in 1984 as Professor of Geology at Texas A&M University. During that time he was Director of the Center for Tectonophysics and held the endowed Halbouty Chair in Geosciences. He was active in geology field research throughout the United States and Taiwan. He was involved in several professional geology organizations and consulted to oil companies worldwide. David mentored numerous graduate students who have gone on to leadership positions in research and industry.

He was passionate about photography and the outdoors. Throughout his life he enjoyed fly-fishing, hiking, and camping. His hobbies were cooking, woodworking, and gardening. He savored his family and friends and added humor and a heartfelt appreciation for nature and history of the earth.

David is survived by his wife, Sherry Bame; his children, Alex and Elicia Bame Wiltschko; his brothers, Bill and Jim Wiltschko; his sister, Margaret Wiltschko; and his large extended family throughout the country.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be made to The American Cancer Society, Hospice Brazos Valley or Congregation Beth Shalom.