Taylor County, TX - Obituary - Mrs. Rosa Strother Dellis **************************************************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Dorman Holub Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm **************************************************************************** The Abilene Reporter News Saturday, January 21, 1933 Last rites for Mrs. Rosa Strother Dellis, a long time resident of Abilene and the first conductor of a private school in Abilene, will be held from the First Baptist church this afternoon. Dr. M. A. Jenkens, pastor and Prof. J.C. Watts, former teaching associate of Mrs. Dellis are to officiate. Members of the Pythian Sisters Order, of which she was a member, will have charge of the rites at the cemetery. Mrs. Dellis, 70, succumbed at her home, 1643 North 5th Street, early Friday. Bravely combating ill health for a number of years, she was stricken a week ago with influenza, the immediate cause of death. The body will be a the home of Mrs. DellisŐ only son, Lloyd Dellis, 1518 North 18th street today until the hour of the funeral. Born in Waco 23 June 1862, Rosa Strother was married there in 1882 to Dennis Dellis. She was a daughter of Prof. Joseph T. Strother, for many years a teacher in Waco University, which later became Baylor University. Mrs. Dellis was herself a teacher in Waco University for several years. With her husband, Mrs. Dellis moved to Abilene in 1889, and in 1890, opened a private school in her home, at corner of North 5th and Grape streets. She taught until 1915 and during the 25 years period was tutor and councilor to many young people who have since risen to prominent position. Members of many of the earlier families of Abilene were her pupils. A member of the Baptist church since she was 15 years old, Mrs. Dellis was prominent in religious work. She taught in the Sunday school of the First church here for many years, until ill health forced her retirement. Her husband died in 1928. Besides the son, Mrs. Dellis is survived by two grandchildren, Orleanor and J.L. Dellis, Jr. and five sisters: Mrs. F.M. Pitts of Huntsville, Mrs. John D. Frederick of Palestine, and Misses Fanny, Annie and Jo Strother of Waco. Arrangements have been made for Pythian sisters and former students of Mrs. Dellis to sit in a body for the funeral. Honorary pallbearers: J.M. Radford, George L. Paxton, J.D. Sandefer, Dr. J.M. Alexander, Dr. C.L. Prichard, G.O. Cresswell, F.C. Digby-Roberts, V.E. Muir, W.S. Daniel, John Guitar, J.F. Cunningham, W.J. Cunningham, R.L. Over, E.T. Compere, R.G. Anderson, George W.P. Coates, H.J. Bradshaw, J.G. Shelton, Austin Ellis, Charles Motz, R.G. Hall, W.G. Swenson, J.C. Watts. Pallbearers will be six former students: Sam Pollock, D.D. Parramore, Omar Radford, John Crow, Walter Taylor, C.C. Kenner. Misses Fanny and Annie Strother are here for the funeral.