Josephine McSwain Wentzel

Josephine “Jo” McSwain Wentzel, age 77 of Charlotte passed away October 25, 2012. A visitation will be from 2:00-3:30PM Saturday with a service to celebrate her life to begin at 3:30PM at Durham Memorial Baptist Church, Dr. Gerald Bearden, Reverend Ryan Epley and Reverend Rick Schubert officiating. Interment will be in Forest Lawn West Cemetery.

Mrs. Wentzel was born in Cleveland County August 10, 1935 daughter of the late Benjamin Palmer and Cecilia Padgett McSwain. She was a member of Durham Memorial Baptist Church, Joy Sunday School Class, was a graduate of Lattimore High School, class of 1952, was owner and operator of Humpty Dumpty Child Care Center, 5721 Tuckaseegee Road. She began playing the piano at age eleven at Beaver Dam Baptist Church in Shelby and had served as organist at Calvary Baptist Church in Charlotte and as organist at Durham Memorial Baptist Church 37 years. She was member of the Charlotte Choral Society and was the Honorary Angel on the Singing Christmas Tree in 1992.

Surviving are her husband of 60 years Kenneth (Zip) Wentzel

Daughter, Kathy Epley (Randy) of Charlotte

Sons,, Kenneth (Butch) Wentzel of Kansas City, Mo., Terry Wentzel (Beth Anne) of Charlotte, and Michael (Mick) Wentzel (Sherry) of Mooresville, NC

Grandchildren, Kristien, Rebecca, Amy, Ryan, Matthew, Jordan, Kevin and Grant, great grandchildren, Maddox and Hailey. Active pallbearers will be the grandsons and Josh Cobb and honorary will be the Joy Sunday School Class.

Sister, Jean Cabiness (Charles) of Shelby, NC. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimers Foundation, 3800 Shamrock Dr., Charlotte, NC 28215. Offer condolences through www.forestlawnwest.com (704)395-0055