ANDREA RHODES

December 23, 1949 - August 21, 2007

FORT WORTH -- Andrea "Andy" Witzel Rhodes, 57, lost her 9-month battle with breast cancer when she passed away peacefully Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 21, 2007, at home, surrounded by her family. Memorial service: 11 a.m. Saturday in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, 800 W. Fifth St. The Rev. Dr. Tim Bruster will officiate. Visitation: Andy's family will receive friends at the residence afterward. Memorials: Consideration of contributions to the First Methodist Church of Fort Worth Foundation, benefiting children, youth, mission and music programs, 750 W. Fifth St., Fort Worth, Texas 76102, in memory of Andy, is suggested. Andy was born Dec. 23, 1949, in Long Beach, Calif. She grew up in Orange County, Calif., and moved with her family to Texas in high school. She attended Longview High and graduated from Odessa Permian before attending the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a degree in elementary education. While at school in Austin, Andy met her husband, Ray, and they married in June 1972. They lived in Houston, where she began her teaching career at Spring Branch Memorial Junior High. In 1977, she and Ray moved to Fort Worth, where she had their two children, Katy and Blake. Andy did volunteer work for a number of organizations including the Junior League of Fort Worth and the Child Study Center Auxiliary. She returned to teaching at Fort Worth Academy for eight years. Most recently, until her illness, she taught in the Eagle Mountain Saginaw ISD at Remington Point Elementary. She loved teaching, traveling, art, walking with friends, the "Road Warriors" in Overton Park and cheering for the Texas Longhorns. Most of all, she loved her family, and she maintained her faith in God. She was a wonderful, sweet, generous and caring person who was full of love and life. She was a very special person to so many, and will be missed. Her family wishes to thank those who helped in her fight against her disease: Dr. Roshni Rao, Dr. Dawn Klemow and Marianna at the UT Southwestern Center for Breast Care, Dr. Janice Tomberlin, Haley and Jona at Texas Oncology Radiation; also to the staff of Samaritan Hospice who provided comfort and care in her final days. Survivors: Her husband of 35 years, Ray; children, Katy and Blake; mother, Florence Witzel; brothers, John Witzel and Jim Witzel and his wife Rene; and niece, Kayli Witzel. Robertson Mueller Harper Funerals & Cremations 1500 Eighth Ave., 817-924-4233