Following are the newly elected leaders for the Galveston County Chapter
President:
Garret (Cotton) Miller is now retired after 29 years with Petro-Texas and Texas Petrochemicals working as a pipe fitter and Safety Specialist. He has been married for 47 years and has three daughters, Carol, Diane, and Sharon and four grand daughters, Sarah, Meagan, Hannah and Rose. He taught firefighting and Foam application at Texas A & M for 25 years with his plant fire crews. He also serves as Council President for St. John’s Lutheran Church in Santa Fe, as Zone 2 chairman for the Lions International District 2SR, as Commissioner on the ESD board for Santa Fe Fire and Rescue. He can be contacted at 409-925-2615, cmiller17@ev1.net
Vice- President
Bjorn de Mander has seven years experience in financial analysis, reporting , and budgeting for a major medical center, where he managed the implementation of a benchmarking system for 200+ clinics and supervised two financial analysts. Previously he built pro formas, provided business plan analysis, and performed due diligence analysis for clinic acquisition projects. He holds an M. S. in Finance from University of Houston–Clear Lake, His wife, Lara, is an attorney and they have two daughters, Emma and Anna. Bjorn can be contacted at 409 986-4212, BedeMander @hotmail.com
Records Director
Dr. MaryAnn Waldon is retired after 39 years in the teaching field, 14 in Elementary School and 25 at Texas Southern University. She is a lifetime Lutheran and has been a member of Hope Lutheran for 30 years. She has served as president of two state organizations in Texas: The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, Alpha State and the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children. She is married and has five children, two step children and twelve grandchildren. She serves as President of the Hope Lutheran Ladies Guild, as Stephen Ministry Leader at Hope and the Prayer Circle Leader. She is presently doing consultant work in education. MaryAnn can be contacted at 281-332-2775, mbwaldon@earthlink.net
Financial Director
Paul Garrett is a retired accountant with 34 years experience with BP. He has been an active member of Peace Lutheran Church in Texas City for 20 years. He services as the Chairman of the Board of Elders. He is very active in Bible Study and in the Journey Bethlehem which Peace conducts each year at Christmas time for the community. Paul is married to Dorothy and has three children, Troy, Dean and Jennifer. Paul can be reached at 281-316-1508, fourjs@hal-pc.org
Congregational Service Team Director
Jimmy Fundling is a lifetime Lutheran–baptized, confirmed and married at First Lutheran in Galveston, and is very active there in many ministries. Jimmy is a graduate of Texas A&M , and worked for forty years for American Indemnity Company as a Property & Casualty Underwriter and Officer. He retired from AIC in 2002. He and his wife have been married for 45 years, and have two grown children. Jimmy has served fro two years as Assistant Financial Director for Galveston County Chapter. Jimmy can be reached at 409-744-5023, jimmyfun@sbcglobal.net
Assistant Financial Director
Sandra Devall is a life time Lutheran, native Houstonian and retired school teacher. She is a member of Faith Lutheran in Dickinson where she serves on the council for Evangelism, serves as the Sunday School Curriculum Coordinator, and the new member coordinator. She and Bill, her husband, have six grown children, ten grandchildren and one great grandchild. She has a passion for single parent families and spends her volunteer time in the community towards that effort. She is a master gardener and for quiet time she reads, water colors and hugs her grandchildren. Sandra can be reached at 281-337-1260, sldevall@earthlink.net
Community Service Team Director
Carolyn Howard is a lifetime Lutheran and has been a member of Peace Lutheran Church for over 20 years. She has served in the following capacities at Peace: Sunday School Teacher, Board of Education Chairman, Youth Counselor, Choir member, Chime Choir member and Vacation Bible School superintendent and teacher. She is a widow who has 8 grand children and 4 great grand children. She served 7 years as an accounting assistant for the City of Seabrook and eleven years for Harry M. Stevens, caterers for the Houston Astrodome Suite Manager. Carolyn can be reached at 281-337-4377, csh5407@aol.com
Events Director
Janet Tessmann is the wife of Pastor David Tessmann at Peace Lutheran Church in Texas City, serving there for 8 years. She is a life-long Lutheran always looking for ways to actively serve our Lord. She has been married for 35 years and has three children, two sons and daughter. As the wife of an Army chaplain for 21 years she served in many volunteer capacities, herself, and professionally served as an Installation Volunteer coordinator for Army Community Services. Jan served 36 years as a Girl Scout Leader, and has written programs for girls. Her work experience includes managing a Thrift Shop and serving as a Family Service Officer for Army Community Service. Janet has served for two years as Vice President of Galveston County Chapter, Janet can be reached at, 409-938-3612, jltess@aol.com.
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