Elva Louise Leister Sturdivant, 97, was born June 7, 1929, in Nordheim, Texas. She passed away peacefully on August 8, 2026, surrounded by her children, ready to be reunited with her late husband, Joel, to live eternally with the Lord.
She is survived by: son Joel W. Sturdivant, III of Houston, Texas; daughter Carol Atkinson and husband Bobby Jr. of Sharpsburg, Georgia; granddaughter Nikki Seymour and husband Ryan, and great-grandchildren Charli and Joey, of Tyrone, Georgia; grandson Bobby Ray Atkinson, III and wife Savannah, and great-grandchildren Guinevere and Lorelei. She is also survived by her sister Erna Simon of Cuero, Texas, her lifelong best friend. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Joel W. Sturdivant, Jr., in 2017.
Mrs. Sturdivant began her education at the Clinton School, a two-room schoolhouse. She and Erna would ride a horse to school, which turned into riding a horse and buggy to get there. She later attended business school in San Antonio, Texas.
She was working in Houston when mutual friends introduced her to Joel W. Sturdivant, Jr. at a bowling alley — a meeting Joel loved to tell by saying they met “in an alley,” always pausing for effect before admitting it was a bowling alley. The two married shortly thereafter, in 1957, beginning a marriage that would last six decades.
Elva was raised in the Lutheran church, and after marrying Joel, the son of a Baptist preacher, she became a devoted member of the Baptist church, teaching first grade Sunday School for many years.
Throughout Joel's career in education, Elva was his steadfast supporter, attending countless sporting events, banquets, proms and senior trips by his side. She was also deeply involved in their neighborhood Civic Association, serving on its board well into her mid-90s.
Though they lived across the country from their grandchildren, Elva and Joel never missed a birthday, always making the drive to visit and make them feel special. They were present for all graduations and countless sporting events every year. Elva even bought a fax machine and taught herself to use it just to keep up with their homework and artwork, and later created a Facebook profile so she could stay connected easier with the whole family.
Elva and Joel loved cruises and casinos, always setting aside a bit of gambling money for their grandchildren and letting them know — and sending along — any winnings.
Later in life, Elva faced one of her greatest challenges when she was diagnosed with cancer in her mid-80s. True to her spirit, she met it with quiet grace and determination, never complaining and never giving up. Within a year, she had beaten it. Joel was faithfully by her side at every doctor’s visit, and the family remains deeply grateful to the wonderful physicians and staff at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, for helping her overcome it.
Elva was an incredibly selfless woman who always put others first, and her warmth and joy touched everyone who knew her. We celebrate a life beautifully lived, finding grace in knowing she now walks joyfully home within the Kingdom of Heaven.
A Celebration of Life will be held on August 19, 2026, at Waltrip Funeral Home, 1415 Campbell Rd, Houston, TX 77055. The visitation will begin at 10AM with the Celebration of Life beginning at 11AM. She will return home to Cuero to be laid to rest beside her beloved parents, in a private family burial on August 20th.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made in Elva’s honor to support MD Anderson Cancer Center through the American Cancer Society, which can be accessed at https://donate.cancer.org/.
