Winola Slough Dillingham

Winola Slough Dillingham, 83, of Stephenville, died Thursday, August 20, 2009 in Fort Worth after a long illness. She passed on surrounded by family and several extraordinary nurses in ICU in Baylor All Saints Hospital of Fort Worth. Funeral Services will be held 10:00 AM Monday at the Stephenville Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Dean Reed and Rev. Steve Holston officiating. Burial will follow at Hannibal Cemetery in Erath County. Visitation: Sunday, August 23, 2009, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.at the Stephenville Funeral Home. She is survived by her husband of 53 years , John Dillingham of Stephenville; two sons, Clinton D. Norrell and wife Kathy in the Peace Corp. in Belize and John Dillingham III and wife Tessa of Gladewater; daughter, Sandra Kay Smith of Weatherford; brother, J. Frank Slough, Jr. of San Clemente, CA; ten grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, Frank E. Norrell ( a veteran of the Vietnam War) and her son-in-law, Joe Smith. Winola was born August 28, 1925 to the late J. Frank and Lottie L. Smith Slough in Fort Worth. She married John Dillingham on May 25, 1956 in Fort Worth. Winola was a member of First United Methodist Church and a resident of Erath County for 16 years moving here from Lafayette, LA. She was a homemaker. "Winnie' as she was called by friends, had ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Winola picked up a really different name from her first grandchild, Toby Gilder. For what ever reason he called her "Paw Paw" and all subsequent grandchildren and great-grandchildren called her by that name. Her husband John is called "Daddy John". Winola loved nature, especially birds, one of the favorite periods of her life was when she was a docent of the Fort Worth Nature Center. She also was a tireless servant of God in her Methodist Church in Lafayette, Louisiana, and her First United Methodist Church in Stephenville. Her special ministry was writing encouraging and sympathetic letters which she did almost every day of her life. Oldest son Clint once said " Anyone who can't get along with my mother has a real problem" Her extended family and countless friends echo that observation. Memorials: Anyone wishing to contribute money rather than flowers might consider Tarrant County Food Bank or their local animal shelter.