Lottie Sue Riewe

October 1, 1930 to June 1, 2020

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Sue at the age of 89 years. Sue was born on the family farm near Charleston, Arkansas on October 1, 1930 of parents Alza and Grant Chastain. She was the third child of six children. Her older sister and brother were Dixie and Clark, respectively. Her younger sisters and brother were Jackie Lou, Bill and Betty.

Sue attended the local schools while also completing the many chores of farm life, including picking cotton, milking the cows and working the garden. Sue graduated from Branch High School as Valedictorian. She participated in many of the school activities, most notably on the women’s basketball team. This was in spite of her mother’s great consternation over the women’s sports uniform that she wore. Sue’s best friend Wayland who graduated as Salutatorian, recently remembered Sue as being unique as that along with her “great brain, she also had a great heart”.

Sue followed high school graduation alternating work with further education. During this time, she attended both area Business Schools as well as beginning her college career at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. It was during one such work period with the Army Corp of Engineers at Camp Chaffee near Fort Smith, she met a newly minted 2nd LT, freshly graduated from Texas A&M University, by the name of Tillman Riewe. Following a whirlwind romance, Sue and Tillman were married at Lowe’s Creek Church on May 30, 1951. Tillman was soon shipped to Germany for military assignment. Sue followed thereafter with a number of other Army brides to join their husbands.

Sue and Tillman took advantage of their posting in Germany to make many lifelong friends and to tour Europe, thus beginning their love of travel which they enjoyed throughout their lives.

Following the posting in Germany, they returned to College Station, TX so Tillman could continue his graduate studies in Civil Engineering. Sue was an active supporter and applied her skills to the arduous and exacting task of typing his Master’s Thesis. Tillman completed his Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering as Sue completed their other joint project, the birth of their first son Michael.

Sue and Tillman moved to Dallas where Tillman began work with local civil engineering firms and Sue continued her career with a job at the Dallas Veteran’s Administration. Her dedication and persistence were demonstrated as on one day in particular, she continued to type her boss’s report into the late afternoon even though she was in labor! After finishing the report, placing it on her boss’s desk, and securing her workplace, Sue then drove herself to the hospital where their daughter Jeanine was born the next day.

Sue and Tillman continued to build their lives together in Dallas, being active in their church life in a series of Lutheran Churches in Oak Cliff and suburban Dallas county as Tillman developed an extensive and highly respected consulting engineering practice. In addition to her fulltime duties as a mother and wife, Sue continued to support Tillman’s work and frequently worked in his office. All the while adding another son, David, to the family.

Sue’s family responsibilities decreased as the children grew older. She then returned to her passion for learning and entered the Accounting Program at the University of Texas – Arlington as a middle-aged wife and mother! Sue successfully completed her Bachelor’s Degree in accounting and later achieved her professional status as a “Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Even as Sue and Tillman took advantage of numerous world wide travel opportunities, they also evolved themselves to be “lake people” when they purchased a lakefront home on Cedar Creek Lake. This soon became the focus of family and social life, including children and growing number of grandchildren, church friends and work colleagues.

Sue’s additional interests included bridge, book clubs, card games and scrabble. As in all things, Sue played to win. Even as she taught various card games with the grandchildren, she never intentionally lost to them! And everyone quickly learned not to get between Sue and a Scrabble Board!

After many years of faithful and active membership in Grace Lutheran Church, Sue and Tillman set forth to help establish a new congregation in neighboring DeSoto. The new congregation, Cross of Christ Lutheran Church (COC) began worshipping in 1983 and was formally constituted in March 1984, with Sue and Tillman being Charter Members.

Sadly, Tillman died at an early age in summer 1984. Sue transitioned to this new stage of life by focusing on their children and grandchildren along with active participation in her new church home. She served as the Financial Secretary for a number of years followed by later serving as Treasurer. Sue also worked as an accountant for various businesses in the Oak Cliff area.

Sue continued her active Lake Life and enjoyed hosting special times with her granddaughters and grandsons at the lake. She developed special bonds with each through these adventures. Sue also continued extensive travel to world wide destinations usually with church or other family members.

In addition to her love of bridge and other card games, Sue enthusiastically embraced the world of Square Dancing. She joined several clubs in the Oak Cliff and surrounding area, often dancing several times each week!

Sue was blessed by God as her family of 3 children grew to include 7 grandchildren and now also 7 great grandchildren! She greatly enjoyed the many opportunities to be a significant and loving part of their lives.

Sue was preceded in death by both parents, Alza and Grant, her brothers and sisters, Dixie, Clark, Jackie Lou, Betty and Bill, and her beloved husband Tillman.

She is survived by her 3 children and their spouses, Michael and Janell Riewe; Jeanine and Mark Virant; and David Riewe and Rebecca Barham. Her grandchildren and their spouses include Jessica Riewe and Franklin Chance, Matthew and Colleen Virant, Chris Virant, Kyle Riewe, Steve and Haley Virant, Caitlin (Riewe)and Jose Bueno, and Brittany (Riewe) and Chris Claus. Great grandchildren include Clare, Ben and Sam Virant; Scarlett and Valkyrie Chance; and Aurora and Evelyn Bueno. Additional survivors include numerous nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are encouraged to share their memories/photos at [email protected]

In lieu of flowers, you may make a memorial in Sue’s name to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Alzheimer's Society or to the charity/church of your choice.

Private Service will be held for Family.