Lois “Blanche” Gillson Dvorak slipped from this life to the arms of her savior on Saturday, May 7, 2011 at the age of 91. Blanche was born on a cold winter day in January 1920 in Wheeler, Illinois. Her parents were Harold Buford Gillson and Inice Miller Gilson. Although raised on farms, farm life did not suit the Gillsons and in 1922 Blanche, her parents older sister, Sybil, and grandparents moved first to Newton and later to Harvey, Illinois in search of more suitable employment. Harold found it in the form of his own heating business. Although the nation fell into depression, life in Harvey in the late 1920’s and 1930’s was centered around family, church and music. Blanche not only played piano but became a talented drummer and proudly claimed to be the first female drummer in her high school marching band in the greater Chicago area. Following graduation from Thornton Township high school in 1937 Blanche went to work as a secretary in the Chicago Portrait company. There she met her future husband, William Clarence Dvorak. Bill and Blanche were married on August 9, 1941. Following America’s entry in World War II, Bill joined the Navy. Bill’s homeport was Miami, Florida, so Blanche moved there too and rented an apartment near the base. It was there that their first child, Delores, was born in 1944. After the war the couple again returned to the Chicago area where Bill worked and attended night school at Northwestern and Blanche juggled two jobs as homemaker and secretary. A son, William Charles, was born to Blanche and Bill in 1949. 1955 brought opportunity to move to Texas, first to Dallas and then two years later to Houston. Blanche and Bill called Houston home until 2000 when they moved back to Dallas to be near their children and grandchildren. Bill passed away in 2006. Blanche was a vociferous reader with a remarkable memory. She often amazed friends and relatives with her ability to recall long ago names, dates, places and other information. She was a member of Hillcrest Christian Church of McKinney. She is survived by her daughter, Delores Ann Dvorak; son, William Charles Dvorak and daughter-in-law, Linda H. Dvorak; granddaughters, Angel Drewett and husband, Scott, Melody, Lauren Christine Dillon and husband, George of Chesapeake, Virginia, and granddaughter, Lindsey Caroline Banks; grandson, Grant Thomas Dvorak; and ten great-grandchildren. A memorial graveside service will be held at a later date.