Florence Bernice Wuthrich

Florence Wuthrich

December 29th 1937 ~ August 10th 2024

 Our beloved sister, and aunt, Florence Bernice Wuthrich (Pill) of Mackey, Texas was called home to be with her lord at 4pm August 10th 2024 at age 86 in Wharton surrounded by her family. She was born on December 29th 1937to John C. and Lydia Schultz Wuthrich of Mackey, Texas and came home as the youngest of their 4 children. She was raised on the family farm in Mackey and graduated from Crescent High School in 1955. She attended Wharton County Junior College and Sam Houston State University in Huntsville where she graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Education. After college, she embarked on a lifelong career in education starting as an elementary teacher in El Campo ISD. After a year or two, she moved to Bay City ISD and taught 3rd grade at Tenie Holmes Elementary school for the remainder of her 35 years in the classroom. After retirement, Florence continued to take long term substitute assignments at the school. She loved being an educator. Florence was a faithful lifelong member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wharton where she was baptized on January 16th 1938. She taught in the church’s Sunday School and Vacation Bible School program for years. At the time of her illness, she was still involved with keeping the attendance records for St. John’s Sunday School.

Florence loved Spending time with family, and life on the farm. She would always come back to the farm on weekends where she loved spending time with her parents. After her fathers death in 1983, Florence became the primary caregiver for her mom (Lydia) while living with her at the family farm. They both greatly enjoyed family gatherings and Florence was always there to help her mother around the house and kitchen especially for noon meals on Sunday after service. They both loved that time with family and many memories were made on those Sundays. While Florence never married, her tender heart, and great way with youngsters, and her willingness to get on the floor and play with the kids, plus the fact that she lived weekends at the farm quickly made her the preferred place to go when away from home. As a kid growing up, a day at the farm playing games with Pill and her Mom(our grandma) was always a favorite thing to do. She taught us skills like how to play croquet, tie our shoelaces (the rabbit ear way), how to stand up dominoes so that when you pushed one over, they’d all fall down one by one, and bake cookies all often in the same weekend. It was a great time to be a kid and I often think she would reflect on what a great time she thought it was to be our Aunt.

As time passed and we all got older, her 6 nephews would get together and remember the good times growing up with our Aunt Pill. We would recall all the good stories, but when we’d look up she would be playing with the two Great Nieces and two Great Nephews. Many times outside or playing London Bridges on the floor, or standing dominoes on the kitchen table in the house at the farm. Still just as energetic as with us. This playful demeanor and the cookies that were always on the kitchen counter right by the microwave continued to make a day or weekend at the farm memorable. Her nephew Philip’s children learned where the cookies were kept before they could even see over the kitchen counter. And then they grew up… and they remembered all the good time out at the farm will Pill. And finally the time came when there were Great, Great Nieces and Nephews. And you guessed it, we would look up and Pill would be playing with the kids outside or games inside. She was over 80 years old and London Bridges would fall far more times than I’d cared to get up, but not for Pill. It was like the child’s laughter was a magic elixir granted her powers.

There was little doubt about where she stood, and what mattered to her. Even for a small child you knew of her love for each one of us, and also for her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As certain as there were cookies to be found on the counter by the microwave, she was going to be found in God’s house on Sunday.

In the end, her lord called her to be with him on Saturday, August 10th. She answered faithfully. I can only imagine at some point she was told. “Pill, three generations is enough”.

Florence was preceded in death by her parents, John and Lydia Wuthrich, and her brother-in-law Edwin Peter. She is survived by her two brothers Jim and wife Joan of Bryan, Delvin and his wife Eileen of Wharton, sister LaVerne Peter of Bay City, Nephews Gary and Bobbie Peter of Bay City, Philip and Jalene Wuthrich of Wharton, Larry and Missy Wuthrich of San Antonio, John and Joy Wuthrich of Wharton, David and Tara Wuthrich of Houston, and Dr. Paul and Cristi Wuthrich of Bryan. Numerous Great and Great Great Nieces and Nephew. She loved them all.

Pallbearers are: Ron Boerger, Michael Beard, Brent Wuthrich, Luke Wuthrich, Ryan Wuthrich, and Ervin Zahn.

Visitation will be at Wharton Funeral Home on Wednesday August 14th 2024 between 5:30-8pm. Funeral service will be held on Thursday August 15th 2024 at 10am at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wharton Texas with a graveside service following afterward at evergreen memorial park.

Memorial donations in memory of Florence can be made to the Memorial Fund of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Wharton. Cards are available at the Funeral Home or Church.

Funeral Services are under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home

Condolences may be left at www.whartonfuneralhome.com