On Wednesday, December 12, 2012, Al Eva Blanton of Whitewright, Texas passed away peacefully with her only child Becky and caring friends Alex Whitworth and Janet Brewer at her side at Mullican Care Center in Savoy. To know her was to love her and she was loved by the people who provided her care for the last two years. It takes a village and she had a wonderful village.
Al Eva was born April 27, 1918 in Greenville, Texas to Edna Hambrick McMillan and Claude McMillan. She graduated from East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas. She married Earl Blanton in 1941 in Greenville, Texas. Earl passed away in 1999 after 58 years of marriage. They lived in Whitewright, Texas where Al Eva taught for 42 years. First teaching homemaking and then returning to East Texas State where she received her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education. She taught second grade until retirement in 1985. She enjoyed substitute teaching but in later years she would only sub for her friend Cynthia Rogers. Al Eva enjoyed teaching and looked forward to each new day knowing that she was going to learn a lot as well as her beloved students. She was preceded in death by her dear friends and co-workers Audra Bennett, Dorothy Lackey, Martha Jo Emerson and Janis Johnson. These wonderful women brought out the best in each child by always providing positive attitudes and optimism. They made it fun to learn. There will be great joy in the teacher’s lounge.
As much as Al Eva loved teaching she loved her summers as much or more than her students. It meant they could hit the road or airport or the cruise ship dock. They were fearless and intrepid travelers. They made friends and stayed friends with people they met around the world. They shared the love of travel, music and food. Al Eva was a wonderful cook and her recipes live on through her loving friend Linda Sullivan and her famous Sand Tarts.
It is hard to lose someone as lovely as Al Eva even after 94 years. She is survived by Becky and her husband Ken and her other “daughters” Maggie Cox, Nancy McLochlin, Louisa Martin, June Gail Purdom and dear friend Gloria Meisenbach.
Al Eva’s charity of choice is the K.I.N.D. fund or Kids In Need of Desks. The children that receive these desks are so grateful for things we take for granted. It takes a village and now we are a global village. Al Eva would like that. You may donate at: www.unicefusa.org/malawi or U.S. Fund for UNICEF, 125 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038
A special thanks to the caring friends we made at Mullican Care Center in Savoy.
Graveside services were held Friday, December 14, 2012 at Oak Hill Cemetery, Whitewright, Texas with Reverend Bill McFatridge officiating.