Lucille H. Trimble

Lucille lived in her home in Plano, Texas, until 103, cherishing her tenacious independence. Her suddenly deteriorating health made it necessary to move her to a small group home in Carrollton, Texas, where she passed peacefully in prayer, embraced and surrounded by her family.

Lucille loved to talk about her early years, and we never tired of her wonderful stories. She was born in a small home later discovered to be the log cabin used for the first school in Forsyth County, NC. She and her family attended the Calvary Moravian Church and often mentioned how much she loved their Christmas and Easter traditions. She lived in Winston-Salem until 1937, through the Great Depression. She used to say that they always had food on their table. At a very young age, she learned to sew and worked after school hemming dresses. She sold her mother's crisp ginger cookies to the ladies' bridge groups and helped harvest green beans from their victory garden. In school, she proudly excelled in her studies and penmanship and kept a journal for most of her life. The challenges she faced during the depression shaped her determination and strengthened her zest for life. The state of the world couldn't stop Lucille from graduating at 15 and going to business college to become a stenographer.

Her family moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked at the Navy Yard during World War II. She carried her typewriter on buses and past The White House every morning. She went to dances with the troops, thinking that marrying a soldier would do just fine for her, but there was another plan in the works for her heart. In 1947, she met and fell in love with JB Trimble while in Florida. It was a whirlwind romance and a true love story from the beginning. Their love for each other was absolute, and everyone could see it by how they looked at each other. One was rarely without the other throughout their marriage of almost 60 years. Soon after they met, they married in Washington, D.C., and she became Betty Jo's stepmother. JB and her father, a brick mason, worked together to build the young couple's first home in Maryland, where they lived happily with their children - Debbie and Ricky. In 1957, they moved to Brownsville, Texas, to be closer to JB's relatives, and her parents joined them shortly after that. Lucille worked for the government and was always informed about politics. JB and Lucille loved traveling around the country in their camper. They spent a lot of time at South Padre Island, finding the beach to be like another home to them. They found joy in crafting a variety of things. There were crocheted blankets and sewing projects by Lucille and intarsia wood pieces, buildings, and stained glass by JB. They often found a way to create or repurpose the things they wanted rather than buy them. JB taught Lucille the value of not relying on money to get what you want, which she sincerely appreciated.

In the early 1980s, JB and Lucille moved to Plano to be near their kids. Their children lived nearby, and soon, there were grandchildren, Eric and Shelley, whom they helped care for and loved with all of their hearts. Lucille became known as BoBo and JB as DeDa. They spent time together camping, collecting seashells, fishing, and catching fireflies. They captured everything on their camcorder and Lucille found joy in rewatching the recordings until the very end. She played a significant role in the lives of her children's spouses and grandchildren's partners, cherishing them deeply. What a blessing to meet her first great-grandchild, Maxwell; she was absolutely smitten with him. Lucille loved the home and family that she and JB created together and was steadfast in her love for all of them.

Lucille made friends everywhere she went until the very end of her life. After her husband passed away, she remained a force of nature and stayed active. She re-took her driving test at 84, which she hadn't needed since she retired, took classes at the senior center, cooked, crocheted, stayed current on technology, and often drove to visit friends until age 97. Her greatest desire was to remain in her home, which she was fortunate to do until the last four months of her life. Staying home as long as she did was possible because of the caring people who loved and looked after her. Lucille always listened to them and loved them in return.

Lucille was the heart and soul of our family. She had a lovely life and a twinkle in her eye that was matched only by JB. There was a determination to make sure everything was just how she wanted it, well into her 90s, when she would rearrange her furniture and bake a cake to have "a little bit" [though we all knew she would end up coaxing us with a convincing smile to finish the rest.]

She could be called stubborn, but a preferable way to describe her is that she was determined to live on her own terms. She drank water constantly but added butter and salt to almost every meal. She was the epitome of the phrase 'everything in moderation', and she was still very healthy until the last few months of her life. She fiercely loved her family and was protective of them. She proudly voted in every election she could, and she believed in the good of our country. She believed in God and was an active member at First United Methodist in Plano for many years, and believed wholeheartedly that she would be reunited with her love, JB.

Jerome Bowker Trimble (JB), her loving husband of 59 years, died in 2006, and she was also preceded in death by her parents, Elizabeth Mildred Vaughn Holt and Thomas Washington Holt, as well as her son-in-law, Frederick James Moss III. She is survived by her son Fredrick Holt Trimble (wife Debbie), daughter Deborah Trimble Moss, step-daughter Betty Jo Carden (husband James), grandson Eric James Moss (wife Robin), granddaughter Shelley Elizabeth Moss Russell (husband Ryan), grandson Jimmy Carden, great-grandson Maxwell James Casella Moss, Deborah's sister-in-law, Dr. Michele Moss, and many other extended family members.

She considered many of her friends and caregivers as family members. We hope that others will remember her by the twinkle in her eye, her kind but resilient spirit, and the graceful, determined life she led.

A service will be held on June 15, 2024 at 1:30 PM at First United Methodist Church in Plano, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Plano Helpers and the Parlor Fund at First United Methodist Church of Plano.

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

Arrangements by Ted Dickey Funeral Home.