Loretta Moore Caldwell

Loretta M. Caldwell passed away on Thursday, January 24, 2013, having recently celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends. Graveside services will be in Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery on Saturday, January 26, 2013 at 3:30 p.m. with Rev. Scott Wiley officiating. Arrangements are under direction of Lloyd James Funeral Home. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Friday, January 25, 2013 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Loretta M. Caldwell was born in Boswell, Oklahoma on January 5, 1913 to Harmon and Minnie Massengale Moore. Her father died while she was at an early age and she was blessed to have a wonderful stepfather, R. W. Alewine. The family moved to Hedley, Texas where she met and married her husband, Truman E. Caldwell. Loretta was a graduate of Wayland College and Howard Payne University.

Loretta and Truman moved to Thornton, Texas in 1941, where Truman was the superintendent of the Thornton School and Loretta taught second grade. Truman was also pastor of the Central Baptist Church and Loretta served as church pianist and organist. The Caldwell’s completed their public school careers in Waco, Texas where Truman was principal of Sanger Elementary School and Loretta taught third grade at Cedar Ridge Elementary School. After retirement they moved to Tyler.

Loretta was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma professional sorority and served two terms as president of the Alpha Eta chapter in Tyler. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Tyler and was active in her Sunday school class, having served as teacher for a period of time.

Truman predeceased her in 1992 and she later moved to Richardson where she lived for the last five years.

Loretta is survived by her son; Gene Caldwell and wife Dorothy of Tyler; her daughter; Minetta Smith and husband Brad of Richardson; grandchildren; Catherine Henry and husband Mike, Sarah Smith and husband Kevin, Alexa Evans and husband Haydan, Greg Smith and wife Karla, and David Smith and wife Sara; and seven great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Tyler Building Fund, 301 W. Ferguson Street, Tyler, Texas 75702.