Willa Dean Hinton's Obituary
Willa Dean was born May 30, 1932 in Atlanta, Texas to Lillian and Onie Young. She passed away on March 26, 2017 just 5 days after losing her husband of almost 61 years on March 21, 2017. A service will be held on Thursday, March 30, 2017 at 12:00 pm at Greggton United Methodist Church with Ricky Ricks and Wayne Norvell officiating. Visitation will be held at the church an hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Rosewood Cemetery under the direction of Rader Funeral Home.
Dean graduated in 1950 from Gaston High School near Henderson, Tx. She attended The University of North Texas and graduated in 1954 with a BS in Education. She later received her Masters in Education from SFA. In 1954, she began her teaching career at Leverett’s Chapel. She spent the next 32 years as a homemaking teacher and counselor in White Oak ISD, Longview ISD, and Pine Tree ISD. We often teased her that she had taught everyone in town because she never went anywhere that she did not see someone she knew or taught. She touched countless lives throughout the years.
On June 8, 1956, she married J.W. “Dub” Hinton. They did everything together and were rarely seen apart. They resided in Longview for over 60 years.
After retirement, she and Dub enjoyed traveling with her UNT bunch as well as spending time with their grandson, Camden.
Dean and Dub were active members of Greggton United Methodist Church for over 30 years. She was a member of the Agape Sunday School class.
Dean was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Teaching Society for over 50 years and a member of the Longview-Gregg County Retired Teachers.
Dean was preceded in death by her husband, J.W. “Dub” Hinton, parents, Lillian and Onie Young, her granddaughter, Grace Ann Turner, and her brother in law Curtis Lacy.
She is survived by her daughter and son in law, Deanna and Jason Turner of Longview, grandson, Camden Turner, sister in law, Joyce “Sissie” Lacy of Bluffton, SC, and nephew Scott Lacy of Bluffton, SC. She is also survived by several cousins and many dear friends.
She will also be dearly missed by her lifelong friends for over 60 years and roommates from The University of North Texas -LaJuan Carpenter, Sarah “Jack” Thomas, Dottie Latta, Pat Goodwin, and Shirley Henderson.
The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at Trinity Timbers Assisted Living and Memory Care for their loving care and devotion over the past year and a half. Also, they would like to thank Traditions Hospice for their gentle care and support over the past few days.
Memorials may be made to Greggton United Methodist Church.
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