In Celebration of the Life
of
Lurline Wallace Fincher
June 14, 1901-May 1, 1996
Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church
Albany, Texas
Thursday, May 2, 1996
3:00 p.m.
Interment
Albany Cemetery
Albany, Texas
Mrs. Fincher became a Christian at age 11 when attending a meeting in Waco
led by Mordecai Hamm. She joined Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church August
2, 1925. She was active in the women's work and taught Sunday School. She
served God and worshiped with people of many faiths and beliefs.
Mrs. Fincher brought much joy into the life of others. She became known as
the "flower lady" at the hospital because she took flowers to the hospital
regularly when she had flowers from her yard. She and her late husband went
to the nursing homes in Albany and Throckmorton to entertain the residents
for many years. She played the piano and he played the harmonica and they
sang favorite songs. She also read poems and stories.
Born Zelda Lurline Wallace, June 14, 1901, between Mount Calm and Hubbard,
she was the daughter of the late John W. and Florence Wallace. She attended
Trinity University at Waxahachie and moved to Shackelford County in 1919.
She taught school at Sedwick in 1920 and then taught three years at Boogsburg.
She married Theron P. Fincher May 25, 1924, at the home of her parents, near
Mount Calm. They lived at Fort Griffin where they operated the T. P. Fincher
General Merchandise Store for four years. The building has since been moved
to Albany and is now operated as a restaurant, Fort Griffin General
Merchandise. In 1937, they moved to Albany and opened Hilltop Grocery Store,
which they operated until 1945 when they returned to the Fincher homeplace at
Fort Griffin. She played the piano for worship services at the Baptist Church
at Fort Griffin and they were members of the Fort Griffin Know Your Neighbor
Club during the club's eight years. Both served as officers and many
improvements were made to the church and the community during this time.
The couple moved back to Albany Sept. 3, 1977. Mrs. Fincher was an active
member of Bluebonnet Study Club and the local chapter of the American
Association of Retired Teachers. She also taught music for 40 years,
sometimes buying and providing pianos for children who did not have pianos in
their home.
Mr. Fincher died Feb. 16, 1987. Mrs. Fincher lived with her children from
April, 1989, until Mar. 11, 1991, when she moved to Blue Bonnet Nursing Home.
She was hospitalized in Abilene Saturday, April 27.
She was also preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Joanne Fincher, Sept. 2,
1995; a son-in-law, Bob Craig, Sept. 13, 1981; three brothers and a son,
Wallace Pickens, Aug. 18, 1929, 15 months.
Survivors are two daughters, Lynette Myers of Palestine, Barbara Kelly and
her husband Dewane W. Kelly of Abilene; a son, Ernest Dayle "Buddy" Fincher
of Albany; nine grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren; and a foster son,
Arnold J. Martin of Carrizozo, N.M., who came to live with the family at the
age of 12 in 1932.
