Published in the Waco Tribune-Herald from 1/17/2009 - 1/18/2009

Aletha Grace Vinson Southwell

May 6, 1927 - January 15, 2009

Aletha Grace Vinson Southwell, 81, formerly of Waco, died Thursday, Jan. 15,2009, at an Austin care center. Visitation with the family will be 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at OakCrest Funeral 4520 Bosque Blvd. A memorial service will be 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, at the First Presbyterian Church in Lott, Texas, with the Rev. Howell Farnsworth officiating. Interment will follow at Clover Hill Cemetery in Lott.

Aletha Vinson was born May 6, 1927, in Stanton, Texas, to Thomas Clarion and Exer Fincher Vinson. The family moved to Lott, when she was two years old after her father died. Aletha grew up in Lott and graduated from Lott High School in 1944. She attended Mary Hardin Baylor College in 1944-1945. She moved to Waco, and her first job was at William Cameron & Co. General Office. She married Raleigh D. Southwell on Aug. 24, 1946, and continued her education during the next several years. She enrolled in classes at McLennan Community College, Baylor, Tarleton and the University of Texas Extension program and received her bachelor's degree from the American Technological University in Killeen. Aletha taught business courses at MCC in Continuing Education and served on the Task Force to establish the Legal Secretary curriculum offered there. She was employed at the Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC), FLYTAF and 12th Air Force then returned to the VA Hospital in the Personnel and Director's Offices. After completing the Personnel Training program in 1978, she was selected Personnel Officer for the VA Regional Office, Louisville, Ky. She received an Outstanding Rating, Special Equal Opportunities Employment Award, and was made an Honorary Kentucky Colonel while in Louisville. She transferred to the VA Medical Center in Charleston as Personnel Officer and later to Shreveport VAMC. Mrs. Southwell retired from that position in 1986.Aletha and Raleigh returned to Waco, where she was active in Waco Legal Secretaries and in the Waco Management and Personnel Association.

She was a member of Zonta and was named in Who's Who Personalities of the South, and Woman of the Year, ABWA Centex Chapter (American Business Women Association). Aletha was a charter member of Westminster Presbyterian Church and active in the Women of the Church. Aletha's talents were evidenced in her church, her employment and in her everyday cooking, hobbies, and interests. Her grandchildren became good domino, chess, and bridge players. There was always something new to learn at Grandmother's and Paw Paw's house.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Raleigh; her sister, Leola Vinson Traver; and a half-brother, Jerry Vinson Pendergraft.

Aletha Southwell is lovingly survived by her daughter, Susan Hauser and husband, Vincent of Austin; her son, Stephen and wife, Donna of Waco; grandchildren, Kara Southwell of Winter Park, Colo., Kasy Southwell Stephenson and husband, Chance of Cedar Park, Texas, Landon Southwell of Waco, Exer Hauser McArthur and husband, Evan and Adele Hauser, all of Austin, and Johanna Hauser of San Francisco; one brother, Wade Vinson of Houston; a sister, Lu Ouida Vinson Phillips of Waco; a step-sister, Dorothy Pendergraft of San Antonio; a step-brother, Roy Pendergraft of San Antonio; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Clover Hill Cemetery, Inc., P.O. Box 326, Lott, Texas 76656, the First Presbyterian Church of Lott, c/o Kenneth Morris, 539 CR 408, Lott, Texas 76656, or the charity of choice.