Georgia Foster Stelzel

On the morning of March 8, Georgia Edna Foster Stelzel passed away peacefully at Elmcroft Senior Living, where she and her husband, Awald, have lived for the past year. Georgia was born January 29, 1923 in Weimar, Texas to Monroe and Mary Foster. Georgia attended school in Weimar and worked as a waitress in Columbus. It was at the café that she met the love of her life, Awald John Stelzel, in 1946. They married in 1947 and spent the next 68 years living life together. While living in Weimar, the first two of their four sons were born, David in Columbus and Larry in Weimar. In 1952, the family moved to the farm in East Bernard. Harold and Philip were born there in 1956 and 1959. While living on the farm, Georgia loved being a farmer’s wife. From chopping cotton to taking cotton trailers to the gin, she was a big part of the farming operation. When Georgia wasn’t helping on the farm, she could be found in her kitchen. One of her loves was cooking for her family. Homemade chicken noodle soup and fresh baked bread were two of her crew’s favorites. While Georgia spent most of her years at home with the four boys, she spent some time working as a cook in the EB school cafeteria. The Stelzel kitchen table was the gathering place for family and friends. You could always find a hot cup of coffee and snacks, with a game of dominoes or Wahoo going on, often lasting until the wee hours of the morning. Georgia and Awald always found time to plant a large garden, and loved sharing the vegetables with their family and friends. They also canned the vegetables from their garden. Georgia loved to tell the story of when the Genzer cousins came to visit from Houston, they would run to the pantry and swipe two jars of pickles off the top shelf—one to eat immediately and one to take home. In their free time, the family camped in Somerville with the Pless and Genzer families. Trips to the river and volleyball games with family friends and neighbors were other activities that Georgia enjoyed. Georgia was a 50+ year member of the Catholic Daughters of America, a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, and a lifelong member of the Catholic Church. Georgia was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a kind and loving person who will be greatly missed by everyone who has been blessed by her love. She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Robert Foster. She leaves behind her husband of 68 years, Awald John Stelzel, son David and Brenda Stelzel, son Larry and Sandy Stelzel, son Harold and Suzanne Stelzel, and son Philip and Elizabeth Stelzel. Eight grandchildren lovingly called her Grandma, Melissa and husband Matt Rizvan, Shae and husband Tyler Menard, Brittany and husband Matt Perez, Mark and wife Stacy Stelzel, and Brooke, Keith, Lyndsay and Blake Stelzel, as well as five great-grandchildren, Hannah and Hailey Rizvan, Cash and Carson Menard, and Mads Perez. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Holy Cross Church Parish Development Fund, PO Box 1325, East Bernard, TX 77435. Funeral services under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home. Condolences may be left at www.whartonfuneralhome.com