Submitted by
Ken Gates
Ethel Mae Denton
January 16, 1928 - January 21, 2006
Ethel Mae Denton departed this life on Saturday, January 21, 2006 at surrounded by her family after fighting a courageous battle against Non-Hotchkiss Lymphoma.
She was born near Marlin on January 16, 1928 to William Odes Denton and Ima Mae Clemmons Denton. She graduated from Marlin High School and attended Texas Women's University where she studied business. She moved to Dallas in 1948 to begin a career that spanned more than forty years in the independent oil industry and business field. After retirement, Ms. Denton found an avocation for raising funds for non-profit organizations. Working with the Salvation Army Capital Campaign Board, she helped to raise more than $10,000,000.00 to build a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center situated on Harry Hines Blvd, and she worked for the Dallas Symphony for many years. Most recently, she served on the executive board of NAMI Dallas (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill). Ms. Denton was a long-time (since 1953) member of Highland Park United Methodist Church. In the 1980's, Highland Park recognized Ms. Denton for establishing an innovative Sunday school class (Pathways) that featured rotating speakers from the community.
Ms. Denton was preceded in death by her parents, and is survived by her dear friend Calvin Adam, her only brother, John Melton Denton, and her three children, Judy Jennings Spray, Cheryl Ann Jennings, and Robert Franklin Jennings, II. In addition, her four grandchildren survive her, James Kenneth Masten, Jr., Rachel Masten Pfeifer, Michael Robert Masten, and Sarah Elizabeth Jennings, four great-grandchildren, Stephen Zane Pfeifer, Autumn Rochelle Masten, Zevin Eric Pfeifer, and Zayden Payne Pfeifer, and eighteen cousins. In lieu of flowers, Ms. Denton requested that donations be made to NAMI Dallas.
Services for Ms. Denton were held at Highland Park United Methodist Church in Cox Chapel on Wednesday, January 25 at 2 p.m. Interment followed at Hillcrest Memorial Park.
Eastgate Funeral in Garland was in charge of arrangements.
