Mrs. WILLIE MAE FROEBEL STARK

FORT WORTH -- Willie Mae Froebel Stark, 93, known as Willie Mae to friends, Mom to her children, MeMaw and Grandma-ma to her grandchildren, and MeMaw to her great-grandchildren, peacefully left this earth to join her Lord and Savior Thursday afternoon, April 2, 2015. She joins her beloved husband, Oliver, who preceded her in death 37 years ago, and many family and friends. Service: A celebration of her life will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 3721 Tulsa Way. Interment will follow in Greenwood Memorial Park. Visitation: Family and friends will gather from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Monday in the Great Room at Robertson Mueller Harper. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, consideration of contributions to Trinity Lutheran Church, the church's organ fund or Trinity Lutheran Church Children's Center, in her memory, is suggested. Born on Sept. 24, 1921, in Brenham, Washington County, Willie Mae was the daughter of Edmund A. and Elda Marie Walicek Froebel. She was raised in Brenham, attending grade school through high school. She was a proud member of the Brenham High School Pep Squad and the Rainbow Girls, graduating on May 26, 1939. She later attended Blinn Junior College. After Blinn she taught at a small two-room school out in the country, Mill Creek School, which was for grades 5-9. In June of 1939, Willie Mae met Oliver Branch Stark while at a dance at La Bahia; they had their first date in August of the same year. In December, 1944 the two married while Oliver was on furlough from his Army Air Corps duty. Willie Mae traveled and set up their home in Tonopah, Nev., and later in Washington state prior to Oliver's discharge in February, 1946. Shortly after returning home to Brenham, the two became first-time parents with the birth of a daughter, Judy Kay. After a short stint in Brenham, the little family of three moved to Fort Worth where Oliver was employed by Consolidated, later known as General Dynamics and now Lockheed Martin, working on aircraft such as B-36, B-58, F-111, and F-16s. The family of three continued to grow as Cheryl Ann and Oliver "Little Ollie" Branch II were born in March, 1948 and February, 1951, respectively. Willie Mae stayed busy being a mother, cook, chauffeur, housekeeper, and all-around general peacekeeper to her brood of three. Oliver, now known as "Big Oliver," and Willie Mae enjoyed playing cards and "42" with their friends weekly, loved to dance, and were very active in their church, Trinity Lutheran, and in following the activities of their children. As the kids grew and entered high school and college, Willie Mae entered the workforce, again, joining in the ranks at a local insurance company and then later one of the many booming oil companies in Fort Worth. All three children graduated college with Judy Kay and Cheryl Ann attending the University of Texas at Austin and Oliver Branch attending the University of Texas at Arlington. Shortly after the death of Oliver Branch Stark in October 1977, Willie Mae became the proud grandmother of the first of three granddaughters, Danielle Monet, three years later a second granddaughter followed, Courtney Kristine, both daughters of Judy Kay and Bob. Oliver "Little Ollie" Branch and Susan later had their first child and Willie Mae's third granddaughter, Allyson Ashley. In March of 2009, Willie Mae was given the official title of "Great-Grandmother" as Eric O'Neil and Danielle Moore Casey gave birth to a precious baby girl, Brecken Fae, with adorable great-grandson, Bolton Quinn Casey, arriving three years later. Willie Mae filled her years of retirement in traveling back and forth to Austin, California and Dallas, visiting her children and granddaughters and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed making trips to Hawaii and across the ocean to countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Russia, Finland and many more. She loved to visit with friends and family and brag to others about the great things her children and grandchildren were doing. She continued to be active in her church and spent time in her yard that was known to have the best and greenest grass in the neighborhood - "Grass that made you just want to lie down under the big pecan tree." She enjoyed making the drive down to Austin with her daughter, Cheryl, to attend all UT home football games, assisting her in memorizing the players' names and numbers. Recent weekends in the spring, summer, and fall one would often find her in Wimberley surrounded by family - laughing, playing, and sharing memories. She was an inspiration to all in her family on how to be a loving wife, mother, friend, grandmother and great-grandmother and had the ability to talk your ear off! The family would like to thank the many friends, relatives and caregivers for the caring and support they have shown to Mother and our family. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 33 years, Oliver; and a brother. Survivors: Willie Mae is survived by her children, Judy Kay and her husband, Robert A. "Bob" Moore, Cheryl Ann Stark, and Oliver Branch Stark II and his wife, Susan; grandchildren, Pastor Danielle Moore Casey and her husband, Eric, Courtney Moore Hjaltman and her husband, Lars, and Allyson Ashley Stark; great-grandchildren, Brecken Fae and Bolton Quinn Casey; and nieces and nephews and their families. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mrs. WILLIE MAE FROEBEL STARK please visit our Sympathy Store.