Lawrence Wetzel
Lawrence C. “Babe” Wetzel, 88, of Buffalo Township passed away peacefully Monday at the VA Medical Center in Aspinwall.
Lawrence was born Oct. 13, 1929, in Cabot, and was a son of the late Florence K. (Bartley) and Otto G. Wetzel.
He was a lifelong resident of Buffalo Township.
He was the widower of Betty Lucille (Rice) Wetzel, who passed away in 2003.
Babe served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, receiving the Purple Heart.
He was the co-owner and operator, along with his brother, of Wetzel Brothers Trucking in Freeport.
He then was a driver for Air Products in Creighton for a number of years.
In 1976, he and his brother started Freeport Lawn & Garden, until he retired in 1997.
He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeport.
Babe was also a member of the Armstrong Lodge of F&AM 239, the Pittsburgh Syria Shriners and the Coudersport Consistory 32 Degree Masons.
He enjoyed traveling, fishing, hunting, going to his camp and spending time with family and friends.
He is survived by his nephews, Charles (Cheryl) Wetzel of Buffalo Township, M. Lynn Wetzel of Richmond, Ind., and Brian Shananbrough of York, Pa.; and his nieces, Susan E. Wetzel of Richmond, Ind., and Donna (Jerry) Watson of York, Pa.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his two brothers, Roger O. Wetzel and Merle B. “Pappy” (Audrey) Wetzel; and his sister, Anna Mae (Edward) Shananbrough.
WETZEL — Family and friends of Lawrence C. “Babe” Wetzel, who died Monday, Oct. 8, 2018, will be received from 10 a.m. until noon Saturday in Redmond Funeral Home, 524 High St., Freeport.A funeral service will be held at noon in the funeral home with the Rev. James V. Arter III officiating.Burial will be held in Butler County Memorial Park in Butler.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Armstrong Lodge F&AM 239, 306 Fourth St., Freeport, PA 16229.To send a condolence, please visit www.redmondfuneralhomeinc.com.
