Geraldine Louise Dettling

Geraldine Dettling passed away Thursday June 19, 2014, in a Bay City, Texas, hospital at the age of 91. Geraldine Louise Wendel was born December 17, 1922, in Mentz, Texas, to Edmund Joseph Wendel and Clara Frances Braden Wendel. The family moved to the Jones Creek area near Taiton, and later, to Crescent, where she graduated from high school in 1941. She met John Louis Dettling at a dance in Taiton and they married at St. Phillip the Apostle Catholic Church in El Campo on July 5, 1943. The couple had six children over the years. She was proud to say that she had a child every day of the week except Sunday, so she had six days of labor and one of rest. After her youngest child started school, Geraldine returned to school to become an LVN and worked at Caney Valley Hospital and then Gulf Coast Medical Center for twelve years. After she retired, John and Geraldine lived a full life dancing, traveling, and playing dominoes. Geraldine was a charter member of the Catholic Daughters of America in both El Campo and Wharton. She was an active member of the Holy Family Mother’s Club and Altar Society for many years. She and John, together with some of their closest friends, started the Good Times Dance Club, which lasted for several decades. Geraldine had a passion for cooking, canning, sewing, and gardening. She was full of hospitality for friends and family. A stroke in 1992 left her left side paralyzed but did not break her spirit or love of life. She regained her ability to bake bread, strudel and kolaches. She taught John how to can pickles and vegetables from their garden and make jelly and fig preserves. Her husband, John in 2008, and daughter Helen Monfrey preceded Geraldine in death in 2004. In addition to her parents, her sisters Magdalene Kudlac and Edmunda Wendel as well as her brothers Gilbert, Clarence and Edmund Wendel Jr. preceded her in death. Her great grandson, Michael Odom, also preceded her in death. Her children Frances and Dorman Pullin of Caldwell, Joe and Sheryl Dettling of College Station, Liz and Gabby Moreno of Wharton, Leroy Dettling of Wharton and John Dettling, Jr. of Wharton and eleven grandchildren and twenty-one great grandchildren and three great- great grandchildren survive her. Brothers Allen Wendel of Mentz and Bernard Wendel of Corpus Christi also survive her. Pallbearers are: Michael Moreno, Patrick Moreno, Christopher Moreno, David Molick, Gerald Wendel, Mark Monfrey. Honorary Pallbears are all grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, godchildren, nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Monday, June 23rd, 2014 at Wharton Funeral Home from 5 pm to 9 pm with a rosary held at 7 pm. The Funeral Mass will be on Tuesday, June 24th, 2014 at Holy Family Catholic Church at 10 am. Burial will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery. Funeral Service under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home Condolences may be left at whartonfuneralhome.com