Oma Church's Obituary
The Chariot Swung Low and Carried OMA CHURCH home on July 24, 2017.Oma (Waller) Church was born on Valentine’s Day 1918 in Collin County, near Celina, Texas, where she was raised by her aunt and uncle, Alma King Gresham and Quinn Gresham. Anxious to get to the big city, she enrolled in Texas State College for Women in Denton (now known as TWU). After college, she pursued her interest in real estate and set her sights on going to work for Louis J. Hexter at his company, Hexter Title in Dallas. Dressed to the nines, she met Mr. Hexter at his office front door for several mornings, until he finally said, I know you want a job, come in, take off your hat and go to work. Oma worked at Hexter- Fair Title for over 30 years, ultimately managing their largest branch office, as senior Vice President, from Preston Center, which covered North Dallas. Shortly after going to work she met James Church on a blind date. Jim was a WWII veteran in graduate school at SMU at the time. He worked for the City of Dallas until he retired. They were married for over 50 years, until his death in 1999. Oma always said her middle name was “Go” and go she did. After retirement she and Jim traveled extensively in Europe. She continued her travels with her sister-in-law, and well into her 90’s travelled to Africa and beyond with her daughter, Mary. A Martha Stewart, before Martha was cool, she delighted in elaborate and fanciful table arrangements. Holidays were always an occasion for oohs and ahhs. A lifelong fashionista, she loved, loved, loved clothes and a week was not complete until she had dog-eared copies of Vogue or T-Magazine for ideas for her snazzy, unique custom made pant suits. Always a bright spot in the day, Oma spread her sunshine as she made her weekly rounds, either as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, which she continued until just recently, or her beloved antique shops, or taking friends to lunch at Lucy’s in Celina & then enjoying a little carrot-sharing time with her recently discovered herd of roadside donkeys. Oma was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church for over 50 years, and for years, she frequently and faithfully provided ever changing, whimsical, kid-pleasing window displays in the church library. Feisty and independent to the end, she will be missed. She is survived by her daughter, Mary Church of Los Angeles, CA (and Jessica); King cousins, Diane, Carla, Drake, and Church cousins, Camille, Warren, Bruce; and longtime caregiver and friend, Dorothy Jones, who was with her when she passed. She will join her mother, Ula King Waller, husband Jim, aunt & uncle Alma & Quinn, and her brother, who recently passed, JC Waller Jr. of Howe, TX. A scholarship has been established in her name and donations can be made to : TWU Foundation – Attn: Oma Church Scholarship in Fashion Design C/O: TWU Foundation PO Box 425618 Denton, TX 76204-5618. Services will be held: Saturday, July 29, 2017, @ 12.30pm in the Wildwood Chapel at Restland 13005 Greenville Ave. Dallas 75243 (972.238.7111) Gathering afterward: 8616 Turtle Creek Blvd. Dallas 75225 from 2pm – 4pm.
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