Obituaries for Sat., Feb. 28, 2015
Published 12:00 am Saturday, February 28, 2015
Virginia Greene
Anthony Broughton
Virginia Greene Anthony Broughton passed away at her residence at The Edgemere in Dallas, Texas, on Wed., Feb. 18, 2015, at the age of 96.
Virginia was born on July 13, 1918, in Glenwood, Ala., to Ruby Greene Anthony and Eiland Eland Anthony, Sr. Glenwood was the Greene family home. Virginia spent the first six years of her life in Alexandria, Va., as her father was with the Central of GA railway. The family then relocated to Troy, Ala., and Virginia graduated from Troy High School in 1936. She earned a bachelor’s degree in 1940 from Judson College and her master’s degree in mathematics from Emory University, which was an all-male school at the time of her admittance. Virginia worked towards her doctorate in mathematics at Columbia University and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Throughout World War II, Virginia taught mathematics at Murphy High School in Mobile, Ala., other than a short stint at the Mobile Port of Embarkation. Post war, Virginia moved to Andalusia, where her parents had moved to help start a new bank. Virginia taught mathematics at Andalusia High School from 1946 to 1952. During this time, Virginia met a friend of her father’s, Ashford Broughton, whom she dated for five years before their marriage in Andalusia in June 1951. Virginia retired from teaching only before the birth of her daughter, Adele, because at this time, women could not teach while pregnant. After her children were born, Virginia worked at her family’s bank, The Commercial Bank, until her retirement in 1980. Virginia lived in Andalusia until Ashford’s death in 2005. At that time, she moved to Dallas, Texas, to be near her daughter, Adele.
Virginia was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Andalusia for 60 years where she was a Sunday school teacher, a loyal member of the Ethel Chapman Sunday School class, and the Ruby Anthony circle. Virginia was a member of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas at the time of her death, having joined in 2005 and attended regularly for almost 10 years. Virginia was an avid reader and an accomplished bridge player. She was in the same bridge club in Andalusia for 54 years and continued playing at The Edgemere in Dallas until a few weeks before her death. After moving to Dallas, she learned to play duplicate bridge at the age of 87.
Virginia was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Thomas Ashford Broughton, Jr. She is survived by her daughter, Adele Broughton of Dallas, Texas; and her son, Thomas Ashford Broughton, lll and wife, Elizabeth, of Birmingham. Virginia had a very close relationship with her brother, Eiland Eland Anthony Jr., Andalusia, who survives her. Virginia loved her granddaughters, her angels, Sara Broughton Van Hauen of Birmingham, Virginia Broughton Reeves of Montgomery, and Lee Ashford Broughton of Birmingham; and her new great-grandson, Thomas Daniel Van Hauen, whom she had just met; as well as Ashford’s grandchildren, Sharon Torrontor Wales and Alan Torrontor; her nieces, Katherine A. Dubose and Elizabeth A. Starr; and nephews, Richard, David, and Bill Anthony.
A memorial will be held today, Sat., Feb. 28, 2015, at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Andalusia. The visitation will begin at 10 a.m. A private interment will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Andalusia, or St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas, Texas.
Deana Marie Barton
Deana Marie Barton, age 41 years and 6 months, died on Feb. 25, 2015,in Crestview. She had suffered many years with diabetes and related ailments.
Deana leaves behind her father and stepmother, Dean and Jean Barton of Golden Eagle, Il.; her mother, Gail Zabriskie of Stonewall, La.; her stepfather, Harold “Bud” Zabriskie of Crestview; her sister, Janel Ely of North Chesterfield, Va.; her grandfather, Raymond Gibson of Stonewall, La.; her children, Carrie Welch Coleman of Selah, Wa., and Travis Ragan of Andalusia; and many more relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Christina Fuqua of Andalusia; and grandparents, Bobbie Gibson of Stonewall, La., and Orval and Mary Barton of Bartlesville, Okla.
Deana grew up on military installations in Colorado, Alabama, Arizona, Virginia, New Mexico, and Panama. She enjoyed traveling to new places and meeting new people. As a child. Deana had a fascination with bathrooms and never failed to explore as many as possible during trips across the country to visit grandparents or while accompanying the family during reassignments. Deana was a talker, and her stories of adventure frequently consolidated the exciting events of multiple trips into a travel log of breathtaking detail. She woke up every morning with a smile on her face and lots to say.
For a few years, Deana and her son, Travis, lived in the Andalusia area. She spent the last years of her life in Crestview in the care of her stepfather Bud, whom she loved and respected very much. Deana enjoyed doing puzzles and needlework, and playing darts alongside Bud at VFW Post 5450 in Crestview. She was captain of her darts team, the Stars and Stripes, and won many tournament awards. And – she loved her cats.
Friends and family are invited to gather and remember Deana at the conference room of the Holiday Inn Express in Andalusia, from 2 – 8 p.m. on Sun., March 15, 2015.