Thomas "Tom" Frederick Ressel

He graduated from Jeff Davis High School where he won awards in table tennis. He graduated from the University of Texas in Austin with a BBA and a major in Accounting.

Tom married Susan Clark of Austin and Caldwell, Texas. She, too, graduated from the University of Texas. They moved to Houston, Texas. He did post-graduate work at the University of Houston. He worked in oil and gas accounting and scheduling.

Tom and Susan moved to Luling, Texas where he worked as an oil and gas accountant. During the Vietnam War, he joined the National Guard and served in a Transportation Unit. He never crashed a truck, but he developed a reputation for mysteriously disabling them. He completed Basic Training and MOS at Ft. Ord, California.

Tom and Susan returned to Houston where their son, John was born. He brought an abiding love of animals and music and a boatload of joy to their lives.

Tom was active in the Petroleum Accountants Society and did mentoring for a local elementary school in Houston.

Tom was a wonderful father. He loved children, and it was not uncommon at family gatherings to find all the adults gathered on one side of the room and Tom and all the children playing on the floor on the other side of the room. Some of the other kids sometimes slipped and referred to him as “Dad.”

He was a grand animal lover, and animals loved and trusted him. He frequently took his son John to the Petting Zoo at Herman Park in Houston and was often besieged by animals attempting to scale the barriers to get to him.

Anticipating retirement, he and Susan moved to Sun City, Texas, in Georgetown, where he served on the local neighborhood Social Committee. He and Rudy, his last beloved blockhead lab, patrolled the streets, occasionally “saving” seniors who had suffered slips, falls, biking accidents, fainting spells and broken bones.

Tom loved discussing politics with friends and could do so expertly without taking or giving offense. He was an intrepid card player. He earned the well-deserved affectionate names of “the evil one” and St. Thomas Awhinus.” His long-time nicknames were “Fred” and “Weasel.” He and Susan traveled widely for many years.

Tom is survived by his wife Susan and his son John.

A gathering of family and friends with a catered luncheon will be held Thursday, November 21, 2024 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas in the Red Poppy Room.