Obituary: Alta C. Bell Bilbo, April 12, 2000, Robert Lee, Coke County, Texas *********************************************************************** Contributed by Jo Collier 2006 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/txfiles.htm *********************************************************************** San Angelo Standard Times, San Angelo, TX -April 15, 2000 ALTA C. BELL BILBO ALTA C. BELL BILBO, 98, of Robert Lee died Wednesday April 12, 2000, in Shannon Medical Center in San Angelo. Family and friends will gather at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 15, to celebrate the life of Alta Bilbo. The service will be at the Robert Lee United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jim Reeves officiating. Arrangements are by Shaffer Funeral Home. Alta was born Oct. 11, 1901, to Elizabeth and Willie H. Bell in Robert Lee. She was the seventh of the 10 daughters and one son. One sister, Robbie Turner of San Angelo, survives. Alta graduated from Robert Lee High School in 1920. She want to school one year in Portales, N. M., where she took homemaking courses in preparation for her forthcoming marriage. Alta Bell and Alley James Bilbo were married June 15, 1921. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 1991. Alley died Jan. 15, 1992, at the age of 92. Alta's foremost calling in life was to be a wife and a mother to her six daughters. Later she became "Mur" to her 15 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren. She will be remembered by all for her sunny disposition and her positive attitude 1942-1962, Alley and Alta owned and operated Bilbo Drug. "Doc" was known for his medical advice and Bilbo-made ice cream. Alta specialized in selling beauty products, gifts and gift wrapping. After the drug store years, Alta was an assistant postal clerk for 20 years at the Robert Lee Post Office. One of her hobbies in her retirement years was to bake pecan pies by the dozens for family and friends. Alta was a lifetime member of the Robert Lee United Methodist Church. In October 1997, on her 96th birthday, she was honored by the United Methodist women. They presented her with a special mission recog- nition pin. In September 1998, Mur moved from her home at 901 Bishop to a new home, the Robert Lee Care Center. She enjoyed the food, fellowship and varied activities until a few days before her death. Alta was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Alley James Bilbo; two daughters, Ferrell Jean Bilbo and Peggy Bilbo Gilmore; two grandsons, Brent Evans and Randy Littlefield; her parents, eight sisters; and one brother. She is survived by four daughters and three sons-in-law, Alta Bell and Lamar Kay of Alpine, Jamie and Bob Boren of Robert Lee, Jo Ann and Jarvis Littlefield of Grove, Okla., and Janet Rathmell of Mertzon; thirteen grandchildren, Jan Hungate of Waco, Mark Kay of Andrews, Kathy Alexander of Midland, Tom Bilbo Boren of Lubbock, John Boren of Snyder, Jerry Littlefield, Jim Littlefield, Rick Little- field and Lynda Caudill, all of Grove, Okla., Sandy Evans of Arling- ton, Steve Evans of Minderal Wells, Billy Havins of Austin and Rebecca Levesque of San Angelo; 32 great granchildren; 13 great-great- grandchildren; one sister, Robbie Turner of San Angelo, and numerous nephews and nieces. Permission granted by San Angelo, Standard Times for publication in the Coke County TXGenWeb Archives.