Patsy "Pat" Drechsel Eppstein

Her life will be celebrated Monday, October 16, 2023, at 11 a.m. with a private service at Rose Hill Cemetery followed by a reception at the home of Nancy and Gary Drechsel.

Patsy Yuvonne Pridgeon was born May 1, 1933, to Katherine and Durward Pridgeon of Handley, TX. She graduated from Handley High School in 1951. She earned a BS degree in Elementary Education and was a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority at North Texas State University, now UNT. Then she taught at Sagamore Hill Elementary School.

In 1955 Pat married Dr. L. W. “Bill” Drechsel, dentist. It wasn’t long before she became a mother to Gary in 1957 and Randy in 1960. She and Bill built a classic mid-century modern home on Jenson Road which she lived in for 59 years and took great pride in keeping it immaculate inside and out. Pat was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, friend, excellent cook, and talented at sewing, knitting and crochet. She also managed to play tennis regularly into her 80s.

In 2001 her USA League Tennis 3.5 Super Senior Women’s team, representing Fort Worth, won the sectional championship in College Station. When Gary and Randy were growing up, Pat and Bill took them on many vacations. The boys especially loved camping in Colorado with the “Camp-O-Tel”, an invention that fit on top of the station wagon. Pat and Bill also spent many weekends at the Drechsel Family Farm between Glen Rose and Walnut Springs with their family, friends, children and grandchildren.

After her beloved Bill passed away in 2009, Pat had an unexpected chance at love again with Dr. Stephen Eppstein. They married in 2011 and enjoyed a few years on Jenson Road before moving to their apartment at Trinity Terrace Retirement Community with a panoramic view of the Trinity River and Trinity Park. She and Steve had wonderful trips to Hawaii, cruises on American Cruise Lines, spending time at Steve’s vacation home at Point Venture on Lake Travis, and visiting family in Santa Barbara, Seattle, and Destin. They also had season tickets to TCU home basketball games and to the Fort Worth Symphony at Bass Hall.

Sadly, Pat developed dementia which required a move to James L West Center for Dementia Care in 2020. She received great care from Dr. Sarah Ross, staff, nurses, therapists, and hospice. Her loving husband, Steve, was vigilant till the end.

Pat is survived by her husband of 12 years, Dr. Stephen Eppstein; sons, Gary Drechsel and wife, Nancy of Fort Worth, Randy Drechsel, M.D. of Boston, MA. Grandchildren: Evelyn and Chad Dozier and sons Logan and Owen of Burleson, Victoria and Derek Drechsel of Houston, and Denton Drechsel of Boston, MA, Phyllis and Bryan Grissom and children, Grant and Allison of Fort Worth, and Ashley and John Durbin of Fort Worth. Steve’s children: Kim and Bryan Eppstein of Fort Worth, Cheryl and Len Gilpin of Normangee, Sherrie and Dr. Roger Eppstein of Fort Worth and Steve’s grandchildren: Janie and Cole Eppstein and daughter, Ivey Rai of Nashville, TN, Jess and Ben Eppstein of Fort Worth, Petty Officer 3rd Class Mark Allen, USN, stationed in Crete, Greece and fiancé Eleni Carisi, Eric Eppstein of Stillwater, OK and Emma Eppstein of Estes Park, Colorado. Special family members: brother-in-law, Paul Miller of Santa Barbara, CA, niece, Wendy and Jeremy Woska of Seattle, WA, and nephew, Roland Drechsel III of Fort Worth.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth, James L. West Center for Dementia Care, Alzheimer’s Association of North Central Texas, Susan B. Komen or a favorite charity.