Zula M. Hunter

Zula Mae Hunter passed away on June 22, 2017, just 20 days before her 100th birthday, at the Glen Rose Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Glen Rose, Texas where she had been residing for about a year after suffering a fall at her home. A graveside service will be held at Nancy Smith Cemetery in Glen Rose at 11 a.m. on Monday.

Zula was born in Lafayette Springs, Mississippi on July 12, 1917 to Foster and Lilla (Barbee) Gardner. She was raised in Hamilton County, Texas as her family moved there when she was 3 years old. She graduated from Union High School in Hamilton County. She was the only daughter in the family having five brothers, all of whom preceded her in death, as well as her parents and her husband of 63 years, Hobart A. Hunter. She is survived by three daughters, Doretta Vaughn of Fort Worth, Peggy Ice and husband Benny of Glen Rose, and LaNell Aston and husband Loy of Austin; 5 grandchildren, Vinney Vaughn and wife Kristen and Janene Gutierrez and husband Javier of Fort Worth, Wesley Ice of Glen Rose, Kevin Aston and wife Jenny and Kelli Aston of Austin; 10 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren, with another expected in October.

Zula is one of the longest standing members of the First Baptist Church in Glen Rose, having been a member for 63 years. She has been a member of the Glen Rose Chapter of Eastern Star for 64 years.

Zula moved to Dallas, Texas as a young woman to attend beauty school. She was working as a beautician when World War II began. In 1942, she went to work at an airplane manufacturing plant located at Love Field in Dallas to help in the war effort and “support the boys”. She assembled airplane panels using rivets and was one of the original “Rosie the Riveters”, a nickname given to women working in wartime industries. This is where she met her future husband, Hobart. He soon thereafter joined the U. S. Navy and was stationed at the naval air station in Corpus Christi, Texas. Zula and Hobart were married in Corpus Christi on September 30, 1943. Hobart was soon shipped overseas and Zula went back to Hamilton to stay with her parents while he was stationed in the south pacific.

After the war, Zula and Hobart settled in Glen Rose and raised their family. They owned and operated Hunter’s Jewelry and Appliance Store for many years before moving to Houston. They returned to Glen Rose in 1987 and renewed many old friendships as well as making many new friends.

Zula had numerous hobbies that kept her busy well into her 90’s, which included cooking, sewing, quilting and ceramics. She made numerous beautiful, hand sewn quilts for her daughters and grandchildren, along with many other hand made treasures. She also had a green thumb and could grow anything. She was a proficient and competitive “42” player. If referred to as dominos, Zula would quickly correct you that it’s not dominos, it’s “42”.

Zula demonstrated that anything is possible with conviction and hard work. She contributed her longevity to working hard all her life. She always said that you just have to keep moving. She didn’t slow down until she was almost 100 years old. She will be remembered with much love for her creativity, generosity, sense of humor and love for her family and friends.

The family would like to thank Glen Rose Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for their kindness and exceptional care given to our mother. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation in Zula’s name to a charity of your choice.