My ex-father-in-law, Charles, passed away several weeks ago, and last Saturday my youngest son and I attended a celebration of his life. I hadn’t seen my ex-mom-in-law Jean for many years, although we’ve kept in touch in recent years by e-mail. Jean is a wonderful, kind, loving woman whose life centered around her husband, children and grandchildren. She is, in today’s terms, Awesome! How many 87 year olds can send e-mail and surf the web? Almost all of her extended family was there, and it was a house full of love – and food – and noise – several of the grandchildren have children of their own now.
Even though I hadn’t seen many of them for years, or since the last family gathering at the funeral of my ex-husband Don, I was welcomed warmly. The kids I knew as – well, kids – are all grown up and have interesting lives and fond memories of the time when I was their aunt-in-law. Thanks, Cassie, for telling me how much that trip to Virginia meant to you.
There was a slide show dating to the late 60’s and 70’s – the hair, the clothes, oh, the humanity! 
There I was as a college coed, all 114 pounds of me, and there was our wedding day, our children, Lynn & Ed’s children … as the family grew, there was one constant – proud, happy Jean, doing the only thing she ever wanted to do, taking care of her family. Charles didn’t appear too often – Jean said he was probably on the golf course. He loved the family, but was not as expressive as she was.
Charles E. Wetzel was a good man, a man born into a family of modest means who managed, although married with 3 children, to graduate from Rice University, a school known for its difficulty and high standards. He served his country in the Army Air Corps before that. He became a very successful CPA in Houston, then retired and played golf some more. I hear he learned to cook and invited their friends for sumptuous meals. He was a talented musician, started the choir at his church and played organ for many years, and sang beautifully. His son Don got some of the musical talent – although he was better at playing the guitar than singing. Our son Jeff got the voice.
I always respected Charles, but never got to know him well. It was difficult for him to express emotion. The last years of his life were difficult, but I will always remember him as he was in my favorite photo of him. Jeff was 6 weeks old, and he was cradled in his grandfather’s arms, his eyes gazing deeply into his grandfather’s eyes, and there was so much love. Rest in peace, dear Charles
