Ethel Domel

Ethel Doris Miller Domel

Ethel Doris Miller Domel died peacefully at the age of 98 on September 12, 2026 in Georgetown, Texas.

She was born in Walburg on December 24, 1927, the first child of Fritz Otto Miller and Lula Homeyer Miller. She was baptized on January 15, 1928, and confirmed on April 6, 1941, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Walburg. As a child, she attended the Ranger Branch School in Williamson County and Georgetown Public Schools. She graduated from Edgewood High School in San Antonio.

In October 1943, Ethel began a three-year letter exchange with Norman Domel during World War II. Norman served as an Army firefighting engineer stationed in North Africa and Italy, and their exchange of letters eventually led to their engagement when Norman returned home.

They married on October 13, 1946, at St. Peter, honeymooned at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas, and for more than 60 years made their home on their farm east of Georgetown, where they raised cattle and row crops.

Ethel was known for being hardworking, capable and independent from an early age, and she fostered a warm, caring home life for her family and always sought out opportunities to help enrich life for others.

She especially loved to learn, and that love became part of the legacy she passed to her children, all of whom graduated college. Reading, traveling, dancing with Norman, playing piano and looking after others filled her life with joy.

She was also a natural leader: she helped start the Domel Family Reunion, she was a founder of Zion Lutheran Church's annual Wurstbraten event, and in 1979, she and Norman were founding members of Faith Lutheran Church in Georgetown.

Ethel's greatest legacy is the family she nurtured, and her grandchildren were her pride and joy. Every Christmas Eve - appropriately, on her birthday - the grandchildren put on their annual "play," telling the story of Jesus' birth through recited scripture for the entire family gathered at the farm.

Her life was long, full and deeply connected to the people and places she loved. Her absence will be felt profoundly, but so too will the extraordinary gift of having her as a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, Fritz and Lula Miller; her husband, Norman Domel; her infant daughter, Diana Kay; her brother, Billy Miller; and her sister, Gretchen Walther.

She is survived by her children: Edith Domel Bullock (Leon) of Mansfield, Linda Domelsmith (David) of Temple, Norman Michael Domel (Barbara) of Meridian, Mark Timothy Domel of Georgetown, Gary Alan Domel of Austin, and Douglas Ryan Domel (Nancy) of Santa Clarita, California.

She is also survived by her 13 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren: Erin Bullock Heinz (Frank; daughters Eleanor and Amelia), Alison Bullock, Leon Barrett Bullock (daughters Elara and Lula), Susan Domelsmith Cabral (Marcos; son Enzo), Courtney Domel Moses (Todd; children Trinity and Callen), Matthew Domel (Sarah; children Jack, Lily, and Krete), Mark Jonathan Domel (daughters Abigail and Emily), Jessica Domel, Christopher Alan Domel (children Ashley and Ryan), Mason Domel (Skyler; children Taytum and Thatcher), Marshall Domel, Joshua Domel (Laura; children Gabriella and Caleb), and Tabitha Domel Barritt (children Westin and Makenna).

Ethel is further survived by her sister-in-law, Mary Ann Miller of Georgetown, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Services

Visitation: Friday, September 25, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Ramsey Funeral Home, 5600 Williams Drive, Georgetown, TX 78633.

Funeral Service: Saturday, September 26, at 10:00 AM at Faith Lutheran Church, 4010 Williams Drive, Georgetown, TX 78628.

Burial: Immediately following the service at IOOF Cemetery, 1117 E. 7th Street, Georgetown, TX 78628.

Memorials may be directed to Faith Lutheran Church for their capital campaign to fund the remodeling of their activity center.

The family is extremely grateful to the Wesleyan community of care homes and Georgetown Nursing and Transitional Care for their loving care over the years, and also to Ethel’s 100-year-old roommate, Millie, for the comfort she provided.