Betty N Choate

Betty Nell Strong Choate, 89 years, was born on March 26, 1926 to Melvin Lane Strong and Ruby Manilla Clark Strong, in their family home in the Old Oak Cliff section of Dallas, Texas. She graduated early at age 16 from N.R. Crozier Technical High School. Soon after graduation, she “ran away from home and sowed her wild oats” in Orlando, Florida for 4 years during WWII. Returning to Dallas, Betty met then married her handsome sailor, Ben Tom Choate. (Who stood her up for their first 2 dates!) They married at the Peak and East Side church of Christ by preacher Joe Malone on December 31, 1949. They honeymooned in Monterrey, Mexico. They made their first home on Jennings Street, then Palo Alto Drive and then built their “dream” home and lived 45 years at 2923 West Ledbetter in Oak Cliff. She is survived by her daughter Belinda Carol Choate Bunch; son-in-law Clinton DeWayne Bunch; five grandchildren: Crystal Faith Bunch, Joshua Aaron Bunch and wife Lauren Bell Bunch, Jordan Taylor Bunch and wife Sara Beckett Bunch, Brittany Victoria Hope Bunch, Flynn Brian Choate, and Laura Parham Smith; three great grand-daughters Emma Grace Bunch, Peyton Reese Bunch and Annabelle Rose Bunch; daughter-in-law Madalyn Rofer Choate; cousins Bob and Virginia Martin, along with nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

Betty is preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Ben Tom Choate; two sons—Bennett Craig Choate (1952-1985) and Timothy Clark Choate (1954-2006); her parents; two brothers, Jack and Buddy, and sister Peggy Rip Strong Tilory. Betty worked at both the Dallas Morning News and the Dallas Times Herald as a commercial artist. Other jobs included artist for Pollock Paper Company, Zales Jewelry Corporation, Medallion Stores, and the Carriage Shop. From the mid 1950’s to the late 1970’s you could almost daily see her clip-art in the advertisements of the Dallas newspapers. She was an accomplished artist, loved to knit and crochet, enjoyed needle-point, cross-stitch, sewing and was an avid crafter. She enjoyed gifting many friends with her artwork, and often did art projects for the church and missions in Estonia—especially for the women’s ministry. Betty loved to cook, and was known for her delicious pies! She loved to play games—especially word games; loved antiques, Christmas decorations and shopping; and loved to play her