Viola W. Wenzel passed away peacefully on July 19, 2023, at 1:15 a.m. She was a resident of Autumn Care of Cornelius Assisted Living Facility at the time of her passing.

Viola was born November 19, 1935, at Bushwick hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Troy Steve Gowens (1906-1974) and Selma Harrison (1913-1994). As a young girl of 7 or 8, she and her siblings went to a boarding school for “War Children” (Grahams School, Hastings on the Hudson) while her father was serving and her mother worked at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Following her graduation from Mineola High School in Mineola, N.Y., she worked in Civil Service for the former Mitchell Field Air Force Base in Westbury, N.Y., before marrying William H. Wenzel Sr (1934-2007) in June 1958. She had lived in Commack, N.Y., and Pompano Beach, Fla., before retiring to Mooresville, N.C., in 2003. Viola was an avid bingo player, and she enjoyed playing cards and other board games with family and friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, George H. Gowens, who passed away in 2002.

Surviving her are two siblings, Eugene Gowens of Colorado and Eleanor Gowens of Florida; her children, William H. Wenzel Jr. of Kansas and Laura Ann Bolt of North Carolina; eight grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and five great-great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends on Monday, July 31, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Cavin-Cook Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 1, at the Chapel of Cavin-Cook Funeral Home with Pastor Dave Keck officiating. Burial will follow the service at 1 p.m. at Salisbury National Cemetery.

Cavin-Cook Funeral Home & Crematory, Mooresville, is serving the Wenzel family. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.