Hazel Van Dyke

She graduated from Shiner High School and received a business degree from Baldwin Business College in Yoakum, Texas. She was employed as a stenographer until her marriage on November 3, 1946 to Joseph Edward Van Dyke, of Yoakum, Texas

They lived in Amarillo, Beeville, San Antonio, and eventually moving to Victoria, Texas. Hazel continued her secretarial positions until Joe entered the Real Estate business, and later opened their own Real Estate Appraisal Business which they operated until their retirement in 2001.

Hazel enjoyed music, art, cooking, and travel. She and Joe loved traveling having made many trips to Europe, visited all but six of the lower forty-eight states, as well as trips to Mexico, Canada, Jamaica, U. S. Virgin Islands, Bahamas, and a cruise for their 60th Anniversary. Her greatest love, though, was her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved brother, Elo H. Willman, Jr.; and her grandparents, Oscar and Alma Deutsch of Shiner, Texas.

She is survived by her loving husband of almost 66 years, Joe; her daughter and son-in-law, Dianne and Michael Appling of El Campo; grandson, Todd Respondek and his wife, Holly of El Campo; granddaughter, Lisa Holt of San Antonio; step-grandsons, Mike Jr. and Leslie Appling, George Appling and Brian O’Leary; step-granddaughter, Kelly Appling, all of Houston; nine great grandchildren: Michaela Holt, Riley and Gus Respondek, Claire and Luke Appling, and Arya, Gaia, and Gareth O’Leary-Appling, and Maddy Appling.

Visitation will begin at 1:00 pm Friday, September 14, 2012 and the Funeral Service will follow at 2:00 pm Friday at Colonial Funeral Home of Victoria, with the Rev. Don Storey officiating. Burial will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Victoria. Serving as pallbearers will be her grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers include the Victoria Northside Rotary Club, Station One Caregivers and Therapist of Garden Villa Nursing Home of El Campo.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Houston Hospice or donor’s choice.

Words of comfort may be shared with the Family at colonialfuneralhomevictoria.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Colonial Funeral Home, 1801 E. Red River, Victoria, Texas 361-578-3535