Submitted by
Ken Gates
Ethel Mae Denton
January 16,
1928 - January 21, 2006
Ethel Mae Denton departed this life on
Saturday, January 21, 2006 at surrounded by her family after fighting a
courageous battle against Non-Hotchkiss Lymphoma.
She was born near Marlin on January
16, 1928 to William Odes Denton and Ima Mae Clemmons Denton. She graduated from
Marlin High School and attended Texas Women's University where she studied
business. She moved to Dallas in 1948 to begin a career that spanned more than
forty years in the independent oil industry and business field. After
retirement, Ms. Denton found an avocation for raising funds for non-profit
organizations. Working with the Salvation Army Capital Campaign Board, she
helped to raise more than $10,000,000.00 to build a drug and alcohol
rehabilitation center situated on Harry Hines Blvd, and she worked for the
Dallas Symphony for many years. Most recently, she served on the executive
board of NAMI Dallas (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill). Ms. Denton was a
long-time (since 1953) member of Highland Park United Methodist Church. In the
1980's, Highland Park recognized Ms. Denton for establishing an innovative
Sunday school class (Pathways) that featured rotating speakers from the
community.
Ms. Denton was preceded in death by
her parents, and is survived by her dear friend Calvin Adam, her only brother,
John Melton Denton, and her three children, Judy Jennings Spray, Cheryl Ann
Jennings, and Robert Franklin Jennings, II. In addition, her four grandchildren
survive her, James Kenneth Masten, Jr., Rachel Masten Pfeifer, Michael Robert
Masten, and Sarah Elizabeth Jennings, four great-grandchildren, Stephen Zane
Pfeifer, Autumn Rochelle Masten, Zevin Eric Pfeifer, and Zayden Payne Pfeifer,
and eighteen cousins. In lieu of flowers, Ms. Denton requested that donations
be made to NAMI Dallas.
Services for Ms. Denton were held
at Highland Park United Methodist Church in Cox Chapel on Wednesday, January 25
at 2 p.m. Interment followed at Hillcrest Memorial Park.
Eastgate Funeral in Garland
was in charge of arrangements.
