Aerial Bert Vess Billings' Obituary
Billings, Aerial Bert Vess was born on September 1, 1918 in Edna, Texas to Laura Foreman Vess and Ulysses Simpson Vess. She had one brother, James W. Vess, and one sister, Lois Vess Klitzke. Aerial graduated from Edna High School where she was valedictorian of her class and won an academic scholarship to the University of Texas, majoring in Home Economics/Nutrition. At the University, she met her future husband, William Franklin (Bill) Billings. They married on July 29, 1939. Within the next year, Mr. Billings joined the F.B.I. During his tenure with the Bureau, Bill was assigned to duty in Pittsburgh, PA, New York, NY, Los Angeles, CA, Mexico City, Brownsville, TX, San Antonio, TX, and Washington, DC. Their children, Diana Sue (now Taylor), William Robert, and Jane Ellen (now Dunn) were born in New York, LA, and San Antonio, respectively. In 1951, Bill resigned from the F.B.I., and the family moved to Dallas then to Richardson in 1959. Bill died in 1997 at age 79. Aerial’s vocation was homemaking. She was devoted to caring for her husband and children. They all benefited from her interest in nutrition and cooking. She and Bill instilled in their children the values of integrity and education. In the mid-1950’s, Aerial was introduced to the gospel of Jesus Christ through the radio broadcast, “Back to the Bible” to which she started listening while recuperating from surgery. Even though she had attended various churches over the years, this was the first time she heard the concept of salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. She believed it, and her life was changed. She became a dedicated Bible student and, subsequently, teacher. Her children and husband were her first students. Through her, the Holy Spirit brought them all to saving faith. Her other students included several groups of women, and many children in summer Vacation Bible Schools in West Dallas. She also taught children’s Bible classes in her neighborhood. She shared her faith and Bible knowledge, too, through writing a devotional column, “Our Faith” in the Richardson News during the 1960’s and recorded many lessons on tape for her friends and family. Aerial is preceded in death by her husband, parents, siblings, and great-grandson, Cole McKee Shannon. She is survived by her children; daughter-in-law, Ada Billings; grandchildren, Laura Taylor Davis and husband, David Davis, Luke Taylor, Jennifer Billings Shannon and husband, Eric Shannon, Angie Billings Lindsay, and husband, Josh Lindsay, Lindsay Dunn Pearo and husband, Danny Pearo, and Lauren Dunn. She has nine living great-grandchildren, Joseph, Luke, and Adam Davis, Piper, Quinn, and Addy Lindsay, and Kylie, Krista, and Kiera Pearo. She also leaves nieces, Karen and Susan Klitzke and nephews, Billy Carl Klitzke and Donny Vess. Aerial will be missed by her family, friends, and acquaintances. But they are comforted by the knowledge that she had a long, productive, and blessed life that truly was used by God. We can all celebrate the fact that she is now joyfully with the Lord, singing His praises all the day long for eternity.
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