Beatrice Oldfield's Obituary
Smiling, Jesus reached for her hand, and on Dec. 29, 2016 at the tender age of 97, Bee took it, going ahead to prepare a place for Charlie. A hometown beauty from Paris, Texas, Bee set out for Baylor University where she earned a Home Economics degree. Her knack for a clever turn of phrase led to professional success long before it was common for women, first in advertising at Weingarten’s in Houston and later as advertising manager at Tom Thumb in Dallas. Then she met her knight in shining armor, Charlie, whereupon she dedicated her life to family, church and charity. She considered it her God-given duty to feed anything that showed up at her door hungry, stray possum or skunk included, founded The Cover Girls to repurpose old wool skirts into blankets for worldwide disaster relief, Operation Salvage rummage sale, and Ken Lewis Ministries. She taught Sunday School, lead Camp Fire Girls troops, planned the most creative birthday parties ever and kept hands and head ever-busy on untold projects, passions or pastimes. At 93, she penned and published Brace Yourself: a Letter to Those Approaching 90 with Coping Skills from One Who’s Been There, the book she took pleasure in autographing as “Bee Old, Old, Old Oldfield.” When their home of 54 years burned 6 months ago, Bee and Charlie relocated. Making the best of a tough situation, Bee stayed “tarp as a shack” (her intentional variation of “sharp as a tack”) making new friends, completing the daily crosswords and Sudoku, reciting poetry and looking for ways to do for others, no matter how small the gesture, until her final breath. Her spirit lives in witty Bee-isms, well-meaning tips and little kindnesses she dispensed so generously to those who knew and loved her – and to more than a few perfect strangers. Bee is survived by Charlie James Oldfield, her precious husband of 68 years; daughter Melinda O’Neal and husband Pat; daughter Holly Hughes and husband Joseph V., Jr. Also, grandchildren Amy Brossette and husband David, Kerri O’Neal, Joseph Hughes III and Kathryn Hughes; great grandchildren Abby & Jackson Brossette, and Chris McMurrey & Emily Croley; great great grandchildren Shaidyn & Dresden Benoit; faithful friend Maria Palacios; and Pooh-Kitty. Visitation: 3-4:30 Monday, January 2, 2017, Restland Services: 10:00 Tuesday, January 3, 2017, Central Lutheran Church, 1000 Easton Rd. Dallas, 75218. Wear purple, her favorite color, if you have it. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Bee Oldfield Memorial at White Rock Center of Hope (10021A Garland Rd., Dallas, 75218) or Central Lutheran Church (1000 Easton Rd., Dallas, 75218). Funeral arrangements have been entrusted into Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75243.
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