Lois Jean Bartels

Services for Mrs. Bartels will be held on Tuesday, December 31, 2019, at 2:00 PM at First United Methodist Church with Reverend Kevin Phillips officiating. Internment will follow at Hillside Memorial Gardens. Services are under the direction of Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home.

Born June 7, 1921 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She went to join her husband Bernhard on December 27, 2019.

Lois had a happy childhood. The daughter of Roy and Erdie Wissinger, she had one brother, Bud. She grew up a banker's daughter, with all the privileges upper middle class children enjoyed. After Graduation from high school she attended Ohio Wesleyan University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in business.

In 1942 she met tall, handsome Texan Bernhard Bartels at a church social. After the requisite period of dating, they married in February of 1943. Bernhard left his white collar jab at Westinghouse and moved Lois back to his native state of Texas. After living briefly in Dallas, Bernhard decided farming would make him happiest. The couple moved to West Texas and settled to a farm near Knapp. Their first home was a rock house with no plumbing and no heating. Lois used to tell stories of snakes coming out of the walls. It wasn't long until Bernhard found a suitable home on a farm and they moved. He installed plumbing in the house, and Lois gradually got back the everyday luxuries she enjoyed in Pittsburgh.

Unable to have children, they adopted their first child, Roy in August of 1950. In 1952 they moved to a farm east of town, and in March of 1953 adopted their second child, Cynthia. In 1962 two more children came into the family. Adopted from Germany, Erika and Lothar came to the West Texas farm.

Lois was very active in her church. She and Bernhard joined the First Methodist Church in Snyder shortly after moving to West Texas. She remained a loyal member until her death. At different points she led the MYF, led the Cub Scout troop, taught Sunday school, and worked closely with United Methodist Women. Outside of church she led the Girl Scouts, was active in the DAR, and volunteered as a "Pink Lady" at Cogdell Memorial Hospital. She was up for Mother of the Year, but was edged out. Later in life she was an active participant with Historic Scurry County.

After Bernhard retired she traveled extensively with him. They often set out in their camper and went where the road took them. Later in life she traveled with Bernhard to various state and national Senior Games, always there to cheer him on in swimming or horseshoe competitions. She remained healthy and active until the last year of her life.

Lois is survived by her children, Roy Bartels of Kerrville, Cynthia Bartels Sharp of the home, Erika Snyder of Denver, Colorado, and Lother Bartels of Snyder.
Grandchildren Shelley Pendergrass of Lubbock, Michael Ator of Houston, Kyle Bartels of Snyder, Koltar Bartels of Snyder, Derik Drinnen of Colorado, Tiffany Drinnen-Maloy of Colorado, and twelve great grandchildren. She is also survived by a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Special thanks to caregivers Patricia Brown, Amanda Torres, and Amy Strong. The family is deeply grateful for the support of special family friend Helen Grimes.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband Bernard Julius Bartels, and a brother Roy Vernon "Bud" Wissinger Jr.

Visitation will be held Monday, December 30, 2019 from 6 PM to 7 PM at Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home.

Online Condolences may be posted at www.bellcypertseale.com