Mady Erb Tanner

Mady Erb was born in Saint Jean d'Angély, France on April 2, 1940 to Joseph and Carmen Erb. In January 1941, Mady and her parents and other family members were confined to the Camp des Alliers internment camp, Angoulême, in Nazi-controlled France. Mady's family survived and the Camp des Alliers was liberated after the end of World War II in May 1946. After being freed, Mady faced a long hospitalization for malnutrition and typhoid fever.

On August 22, 1959 in Saint Jean d'Angély, Mady married Harold Jean Tanner, an American soldier stationed at the nearby Fontenet Ordnance Depot. After they were married, the couple moved to Fort Worth, Texas. Harold left the military and the couple had two children. After a short time in the civilian sector, Harold rejoined the U.S. Army in April 1962. From there, Mady and Harold lived in Germany and several locations throughout the United States.

During this time Harold deployed to the Republic of Vietnam. While Harold was in Vietnam, Mady worked as a nurse aide at St. Joseph's Hospital in Fort Worth, marking the start of a career in healthcare services, including working in several nursing homes, in-home healthcare, and as an emergency medical technician for three years.

In 1985, Mady and Harold moved from Fort Worth to Dawson, Texas. On November 22, 1991, Mady became a naturalized U.S. citizen in a formal ceremony held in Dallas, Texas. In 2003, Harold and Mady retired and moved to Van, Texas. They were very active in several veterans' organizations, including the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (Department of Texas), and the Van Zandt County Veterans Memorial in Canton, Texas.

Mady is preceded in death by her parents and her husband. She is survived by her sisters Marthe Erb Beaubeau, Viviane Erb Charnole, Christiane Erb Caiveau, Marie-Jose Carmen Josette Erb DeLouvee, Florence Erb Ridel, Katia Jeanne Annie Erb Boudou; and her brothers Albert Erb, Marc Erb, and Thierry Erb.

Mady is also survived by her two children, Harold Joseph Fontenot and Brigitte Carmen Preston; and her grandchildren Natasha Crowell, Bryan Christopher Preston, Brionna Preston Wiggins, Alia Quinn Pappas; and her nine great-grandchildren, Brooklyn, Carmen, Ira, Lily, Cale, Rhyder, Adelynn, Cohen and Caden.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.eubankfh.com for the Tanner family.