Carl Graves Wettersten

WETTERSTEN, Carl Graves, age 95, of Birmingham, AL., and Atlanta, GA., died Saturday, October 18, 2014. He was born in Dallas, TX., on October 13, 1919, and spent most of his childhood traveling between Honey Grove, TX. and Washington, D.C. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1940 with a degree in Electrical Engineering and was commissioned into the Army as a Captain. He served as an Artillery Battery Commander. He went ashore at Normandy on D-Day and later received the Purple Heart.

After serving his country, Carl worked for Delta Airlines in Dallas, where he met the love of his life, Marie Shires, to whom he was married for 65 years. They moved to Houston where he worked in insurance for Houston, Stevens and Cummings. He served on the Vestry and was a Lay Minister at St. Frances Episcopal Church in Houston, until 1963, when he and Marie moved to Birmingham, AL. There, Carl worked for Molton, Allen & Williams until he retired. He continued to work for several companies as a consultant throughout his retirement, until he finally decided at age 94 that he would take on no new clients.

Carl was loved deeply by those who were fortunate to know him. His knowledge and memory were broad and unwavering, regardless of the subject matter. But his sense of humor and generosity were his hallmarks.

Carl’s love of family was undeniable. He was devoted entirely to his wife and two daughters, and long ago gave up any hope of winning an argument with any of them. There was never enough he could do for them or for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He enjoyed playing golf, duplicate bridge, gin, and poker with his friends, and he especially enjoyed lunch with his Thursday Men's group at The Club. He also loved sharing his stories about his travels across the country and abroad.

His friends and family embraced his engaging spirit. When asked how he felt, he would reliably reply with his familiar smile and heartfelt answer: “Top of the World!" His keen intellect, sense of person and delightful sense of humor remained in tact to the end. We loved him dearly, and we will miss him terribly.

Carl was predeceased by his loving wife, Marie; parents, Augusta Leeper Wettersten and Carl Samuel Wettersten; and two brothers, Jim and Phil Wettersten. He is survived by his daughters, Cindy (Jim) Percival of Bay Point and Linda (Cody) Laird of Atlanta; four grandchildren, John David Percival, Tammy (Rob) Shassberger, Richard (Alison) Smith and Melinda (Clint) Day; and eight great-grandchildren.

The Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, November 2, 2014 in the Chapel at Independent Presbyterian Church, 3100 Highland Avenue, Birmingham, AL at 2 o'clock.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Lung Association. Online condolences may be made at hmpattersonspringhill.com.