Mary'O Rena Wilpitz

Mary’O Rena Thompson Wilpitz was born on June 6, 1926, in Katy, Texas, to Rowena and Olen Thompson. She lived a long, fruitful life, always within 50 mi. of Katy. She was predeceased by her spouse of 60+ yr, Ernest Allen Wilpitz (of Brookshire), her son Byron Lynn, her brother Glenn Thompson and sister Margaret Stager. She is survived by her three daughters and their spouses—Laura and Kyle Pankonien of Austin, Michele and Gary Dial of Katy, and Nan and Ralph Hartman of Cuero—as well as her sister and brother-in-law, Beth and Oscar Fraley, seven grandchildren and their spouses—Corkey Dial, Blake Pankonien, Leigh Pankonien, Parker Dial, Jesse Hartman-Mendoza, Hannah Hartman, and Forrest Hartman—and seven great grandchildren. Mary’O graduated from Baylor University with a music degree, specializing in pipe organ. Her long career included serving as organist at multiple Houston-area churches, among them Heights Christian, Chapelwood Methodist, Memorial Drive Methodist, St. Philip Presbyterian, and Brookshire Methodist, as well as teaching piano and general music lessons. Mary’O maintained an active membership in the American Guild of Organists during her career. She was equally proud of the family that she raised, the rice-farming, Christian family in which she grew up, and the contributions that she made by bringing excellence in church music through the joyful sounds that she made for so many years. The senior living communities in which she last lived knew that they had a daughter of the Katy prairie and accomplished musician in their midst.

Contributions honoring Mary'O may be sent to:

Brookshire First United Methodist Church
Mary'O Wilpitz Music Fund
PO Box 397
Brookshire, TX 77423