Jean Ann Billings' Obituary
Jean Ann Billings, 96, of Dallas died of natural causes August 9, 2017. She was deceptively young for her years. Born October 18, 1920 in Lexington, IL, Jean Ann was the second of seven children of Annie (Breese) and Oliver Howell Elder. As a young lady, she went to live with relatives in Chicago, then attended Illinois Wesleyan, where she earned a degree in nursing. During World War II she served in the U.S. Navy as a nurse in San Diego, CA, then returned to Illinois to work as a civilian nurse, where she met and married Texas Robert B. Billings. They settled in Dallas in 1954 to raise three sons. Jean Ann was a homemaker, and her husband had his own law practice until his unexpected death in 1970. She returned to nursing after his death and worked at Presbyterian Hospital Dallas for the next 15 years. Jean Ann had great enthusiasm for family and friends, as well as attending Dallas’ many cultural attractions. She was a gracious hostess and extraordinary card player. She was active in Highland Park Presbyterian Church, Preston Hills Book Club, and the Hockaday Neighborhood Association. She was preceded in death by husband Robert Burke Billings, brothers Don, Ed, and Bob Elder and sister Shirley Elder Robb. She is survived by sons and daughters-in-law Bruce and Anne Billings, Rex and Sara (Willeford) Billings of Dallas, and Larry and Linda Billings of Mount Vernon, TX; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; her sister Gwen and husband Bill Whetzel of Sarasota, FL; and brother Rowland and wife Martha Elder of Houston, TX. A celebration of Jean Ann’s life will be on Friday, August 18, 2017 at 10 AM at Highland Park Presbyterian Church. Memorial donations may be made to the Preston Center Rotary Club Foundation, 7373 Blairview Dr., Dallas, TX 75230.
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