Ida Belle Vestal
July 8, 1922 – May 16, 2021
Obituary for Ida Belle Vestal
Belle Vestal, 98, passed peacefully Sunday, May 16 in Dallas, Texas. She was born July 8, 1922 to Jesse and Lula James, outside of Farmersville near Merit, Texas. At the age of 5 during the Great Depression, her father moved the family west near Crowell, Texas. They lived initially out of a boxcar and worked as sharecroppers until she was 13.
The Dust Bowl forced them to leave a then barren West Texas, moving back to Merit where the family was finally able to earn a living and eventually own their own home again. There she picked cotton and onions and attended a small schoolhouse in Farmersville, until she was 17 and moved to Dallas. She graduated from Dallas Technical High School with a GED in 1940.
When WW II began, she attended the Defense School of Lockheed Martin at Love Field. Her job there began as “Rosie the Riveter,” removing the bullet ridden panels and riveting the new ones onto the damaged B17, B24 and B38 bombers, but she moved up to the more sought-after job gapping spark plugs, inside hangers cooled by fans rather than outdoors in the blistering Texas heat and freezing cold. After the War, she worked retail for Dreyfus Men’s Store and Women’s Sport Clothes. After a short stay in California with her sister and brother-in-law, who were still stationed in the Army and Women’s Army Corp (WAC), she returned to Dallas and worked for the Singer Sewing Machine Company. There she met the love of her life, Hugh Vestal.
They married in Dallas March 5th, 1949 and she traveled the country with him as he toured playing trumpet with Joe Reichman and His Orchestra in Chicago, New Orleans and California. Ironically, their first home was near the runway of Love Field and Bachman Lake. After the birth of their son, they were transferred in 1953 to Buffalo New York, then back to Texas in early 1955 buying a home in Richardson, which was home for the remainder of her life.
A devoted mother, Belle was a stay-at-home housewife during those early years. Later she got back into retail, selling women’s shoes at Sanger Harris and Rogers Shoes from 1962-1998. Her diverse hobbies and interests included Ballroom and Swing dancing, ice skating, bowling, horseback riding, and traveling across the country in their RV stopping to visit, numerous LDS Temples, probate court houses gathering family names and records, State and National Parks, Bluegrass festivals and visiting with relatives.
Her special talents were being an angel, a loving wife and mother, a genealogist, a volunteer for the American Cancer Society, and even a painter. She delighted in entertaining with nearly endless anecdotes of her past.
Belle was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Bonnie and brother J.L., and her husband Hugh. She is survived by her son Hugh Vestal, sister-in-law, three nephews, and their many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She will be greatly missed by everyone who has ever known her love, dedication, and humble spirit. She has now rejoined her husband, ancestors and far too many friends, who have been preparing for her arrival in Heaven.
A special thank you to everyone at Chattington Manor and Angel Hands for their loving attention.
In lieu of flowers, please send your kind donations to a charity of your choice, or any of the following:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 14740 Meandering Way, Dallas, TX 75248
Chattington Manor, DBA E & J Cottages LLC 7508 Chattington Dr. Dallas, Texas 75248
Angel Hands Hospice 8330 Lyndon B Johnson Fwy, Dallas, TX 75243
Those who are unable to attend the service in person may access the service via the following Live Streaming link:
http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/54420/hash:F08B938A0B7FA89F
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Ida Belle Vestal please visit our Sympathy Store.
Upcoming Events
Visitation
MAY 26. 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (CST)
The Memorial Chapel at Restland Funeral Home
13005 Greenville Avenue
at Restland Road
Dallas, TX 75243
Funeral Service
MAY 26. 12:00 PM (CST)
The Memorial Chapel at Restland Funeral Home
13005 Greenville Avenue
at Restland Road
Dallas, TX 75243
Interment
MAY 26 (CST)
Court Of Memories
13005 Greenville Ave.
Dallas, TX 75243
Cemetery Details
Restland Cemetery
13005 Greenville Avenue
Dallas, TX 75243
https://www.restlandfuneralhome.com/
