Exotic Wildlife Association
Membership Alert
Former EWA Board Member Louis Datel passes away
LAFAYETTE – A Celebration of Life and gathering of family and friends was held on Monday, December 10, 2012 at 7:00 PM in Lafayette, LA for Louis Otto Datel, 78, who died on Thursday, December 6, 2012.
He leaves to cherish his memory, his beloved wife, Priscilla Comeaux Datel of Lafayette, LA; two daughters, Dianne McClelland and her husband, Jeff of Youngsville, LA and Donna Whitmore of Aspen, CO; five grandchildren, Amy McClelland Stakes and her husband, Brady, Jacob McClelland, Garrett McClelland, Jerome Flynn and Lucas Flynn; three great grandchildren, Bennett Stakes, Bowen Stakes and Madagan Flynn; and three sisters, Louise Adams and her husband, Lynn of Dayton, TX, Julia Ripkowski and her husband, Buster of Dayton, TX and Mary Mayfield and her husband, Rex of Kilgore, TX.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Sophie Davada Datel.
Louis Otto Datel was born on January 22, 1934 in Dayton, Texas and was a resident of Lafayette, Louisiana for most of his life. He was a graduate of Texas A & M earning a degree in Petroleum Engineering and a member of the football team. He was also an active contributor and member of several A & M Alumni Associations. Following his graduation, Mr. Datel worked as an independent directional driller before opening his own business in Houston and Lafayette. Mr. Datel owned and operated Datel Tool Company, which serviced the oilfield industry for over 30 years. He co-wrote a book on directional drilling and also lectured in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He was an animal lover which brought about his passion for deer, opening the Datel deer farm in Lafayette, which housed over 200 exotic breeds of deer that he considered his pets. Louis joined the Exotic Wildlife Association in 1996 and was also past President of the Lafayette Whitetail Deer Association. Mr. Datel loved traveling, and spent years traveling to many different countries learning their unique cultures. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother and friend and will be dearly missed by all.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Mr. Datel’s name to the Texas A & M Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77840
View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com