Billie Jean Minchew's Obituary
Billie Jean Minchew was born on December 29, 1926 in the rural community of Munson, six miles southeast of Royse City, Texas in Rockwall County. Her parents were Eugene and Virginia Watkins who farmed in that area. She learned the value of hard work at an early age. She was proud of her country heritage and enjoyed relating her cotton picking prowess to anyone that would listen. She graduated from Royse City High School at age 16 and immediately moved to Dallas to further her employment opportunities. After successfully completing a short business course she was employed by an insurance company in Dallas for a few years as a secretary, later moving to General Electric Company in that same capacity. At age 18 she was baptized into Christ and began a long life of devotion and faithfulness to Him. Through church activities she met Walt Minchew. They were married January 3, 1953. A short while later she became a full time homemaker and mother and devoted herself to raising a family. Over the next 20 years in which the family moved to six different cities in Texas, Kansas and Missouri, finally landing in Dallas in 1971, she developed a great deal of resilience and independence. She loved her family and enjoyed a wide variety of family activities, especially holidays. She was very active at the Walnut Hill Church of Christ, serving as Bible School Teacher in the elementary age group. She was also active for many years in the Visitation Program of the church. In later years she found her most loved area of ministry as a greeter welcoming members and visitors to the church. Her beautiful smile and innate ability to exude warmness and sincerity endeared her to all comers. Her favorite saying was “Just take one day at a time.” She passed on peacefully from this temporary life on earth to an eternal home with her Lord in Heaven at 5:45 pm on Friday, June 5, 2015 in Dallas, TX. She was preceded in death by her parents and two younger sisters, Mary Lee Hagood of Lima, Ohio and Lurline Roan of Rockwall. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Walt Minchew and two children, daughter Mary Conley and husband Don of Bowie, son Alan Minchew and wife Laura of Franklin, TN. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Sarah Dezendorf and husband Justin of Houston, Shannon Cobb of Lewisville, Kate Minchew of Nashville, Grant Minchew of Nashville, Melissa Smith and husband Rick of Austin and Matt Conley of Bowie; also four great grandchildren, Emma, Felicity and Gwyneth Smith and Sebastian Conley. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 pm, Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at Restland Funeral Home. Service will take place at 1:00 pm, Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at Walnut Hill Church of Christ. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75243.
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