BRUCE PETZOLD
09/25/1947 - 01/13/2023
Our Beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, Bruce Clark Petzold died peacefully in his sleep on January 13, 2023 in the beautiful home he designed and built in the trees surrounded by his loving family.
Bruce was an Eagle Scout with the Order of the Arrow, graduated Magna Cum
Laude from Westbury High School in 1966, and played three sports in school. Bruce pledged Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity at Georgia Tech University where he received his degree in architecture in 1971. During his career as a registered architect,
Bruce had his own design/ build firm that specialized in historically accurate reproduction Victorian homes. As an assistant Vice President at Texas Commerce Bank, he oversaw the construction of banks all over Texas. Bruce also designed and was a project manager for a wide variety of building projects including schools, jails, University Centers at University of Houston Clear Lake and Texas State University, hospitals, a post office, and a host of beautiful custom homes in the Houston area. Bruce had a reputation for kindness. He was a natural mentor in all walks of his life, always being willing to listen to others, professionally as well as personally, and through his Church, Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church. For him, the most important mentoring was in his family, for his daughter and grandsons and his most treasured title was “Best Papa ever!”
In their 50 years together, Bruce and Carmen visited 15 foreign countries, and half of the states in the US, Most of the more than 500 trips made were to their beloved Wimberley, but they also snorkeled dozens of beaches in the Caribbean and Hawaii. Bruce was above all else, a wonderful supportive, involved father, brother, grandfather, friend, and husband who will be forever sorely missed. He was also a faith-filled Christian with whom the family shares the conviction that Bruce has been made whole by Christ who welcomed him into Heaven accompanied by Bruce’s parents, and his baby brother, Ronnie.
Bruce is survived by the loves of his life, his wife, Dr. Carmen Petzold, his daughter, Lauren Elise Petzold, {Daniel Collins}, grandsons, Joshua Petzold and Brayden Feuerstein. Bruce was the oldest of a large loving sibling group including the 5 surviving children born in Houston to Wilburn and Donna Petzold: Deborah McCarroll, Sharon Whanger Hoover (Mike), Carol Walther (Larry), and Brian (Stephanie), 4 nieces and 6 nephews as well as five Bonus nieces and nephews and 11 great nieces and nephews.
The family would like to express our deep appreciation for the following individuals and groups who provided so much loving care to Bruce over the last months and years: Peggy Gobin, P.A. Kristin Pacini, Dr. David Rodgriguez, Bluestar Hospice, the Second Family Ministries of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, the Seekers Sunday School Class, Bruce’s sisters, Debbie, Sharon, and Carol, and his brother, Brian. Lastly, without the round-the clock care of his daughter, Lauren Elise, Bruce’s transition to his new home with Jesus would have not been as peaceful.
A Celebration of Life service for Bruce will be held on Friday, at 1 PM January 27, 2023 in the Chapel at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, 11620 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77024. For those wishing to attend virtually, the service will be live-streaming on the Church
YouTube channel. In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, or your favorite charity.
For more information on remembrances please visit the Birdsong Cremation Services website at www.birdsongcremations.com/obituaries/ BrucePetzold.