Roll Call Tribute

F. Wayne Varnell 

February 5, 1951 - August 26, 2024 

Wayne Varnell passed away at his home in Houston on August 26, 2024 at the age of 73. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 8, 2024 at First Presbyterian Church in Palestine, Texas.

Wayne was born in 1951 to the late Richard and Jewell Varnell. He grew up in Afton, Texas, where he played on many sports teams and graduated as valedictorian of Patton Springs High School in 1969.

Wayne attended Texas A&M University, graduating in 1973 with a degree in Nuclear Engineering. He worked at Bechtel for nearly 40 years, managing engineering projects around the world. For many years he also volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America, helping Scouts earn their Nuclear Science Merit Badges.

He was a talented woodworker and metalworker, and he spent many happy hours in his workshop, often gifting family and friends handcrafted works of art. He loved the outdoors and always looked forward to fishing and hunting trips with friends.

Wayne is survived by wife Michele, his daughter Valerie Varnell and her husband Jason Byblow, son Robert Varnell, grandson William Byblow, sister Ahnise and her husband Hugh Summers, nephew Alan Summers, many cousins, and dear family friends Kim Hudgins Summers and Dick Hughes. He was preceded in death by his parents and his nephew Richard "Ric" Summers.