Martha Jane Wachtel

She was born March 12, 1941, in Fort Worth, Texas, to John Horace and Beatrice McBride.

A Visitation for Martha will be held Tuesday, July 2, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Shannon Rose Hill Funeral Chapel, 7301 East Lancaster Ave, Fort Worth, Texas 76112.

Celebration of Life will occur Wednesday, July 3, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Meadowbrook-Poly United Methodist Church, 3900 Meadowbrook Dr., Fort Worth, Texas 76103. Graveside will take place at 1:00 PM at Shannon Rose Hill Cemetery.

Martha was a 1959 graduate of Polytechnic High School and attended TCU. She went to work for Federal civil service for the then Public Housing Administration (now HUD) where she met the love of her life, Del Nichols Wachtel. They were married May 26, 1962, and enjoyed 52 ½ years of marriage before Del’s death in 2014.

Martha retired from full-time work outside the home with the birth of her older son, Lee Richlen Wachtel. John arrived 2 years later and she devoted herself to full-time motherhood and homemaker.

During this time the opportunity arose for her to use her musical ability and training as an organist and pianist for several churches in Fort Worth. For 40 years, she was a full-time church musician. Martha was a member of the Meadowbrook United Methodist Church and served as organist there for several years. She continued to play for the Wesleyan Sunday school class at Meadowbrook and other functions.

Martha enjoyed reading, television, crossword puzzles, card games and her music. She loved the plants and flowers in her yard, but wasn’t much of a gardener. When it got hot you didn’t see her outside. She said she wasn’t a sunflower, but an orchid. Another of her joys was her cats. She wasn’t quite a crazy cat lady, but came close a few times.

If desired, memorials may be directed to the Humane Society of North Texas, 1840 East Lancaster, Fort Worth, 76102 or Meadowbrook-Poly United Methodist Church, 3900 Meadowbrook Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76103.

Martha is preceded in death by her parents, husband, and son, Lee. She is survived by her son John and his wife, Kim and grandsons, Adam and Connor Wachtel.