On the morning of July 23, 2022 Del passed away peacefully of natural causes, after experiencing a long period of gradually declining health while living at The Forum in the Woodlands, Texas. She was 97 years old.
Named Ludie after her father, Lude W. Hamilton, and her mother, Annie Odell (Davidson) Hamilton, she was known throughout her life as "Del." Before Del's birth on September 21, 1924 in Cherokee, Texas, her father passed away in Conroe, Texas on February 29, 1924. After her father Lude died, the family moved to Redlawn, Texas. Del had 8 siblings, including one who died as an infant in 1921.
Del married James "Jay" Wesley Alexander whom she met on a blind date in Corpus Christi and married on March 13, 1943 in Nueces, Texas. They were married at her mother's bedside, without the ceremony that was being planned for a later date, so that her mother could witness their wedding. Del's mother died on July 21, 1943.
Jay served in the U.S. Navy for 30 years, retiring as a commander in 1971. Jay and Del spent those Navy years in several locations, including Imperial Beach, California; Memphis Tennessee; Arlington, Virginia; Norfolk, Virginia; Yokohama, Japan; and Keflavik, Iceland. Once Jay retired, they traveled in Europe before moving back into the home they had built years before in Imperial Beach, California.
After moving back to Imperial Beach and realizing that a quieter, more rural life would suit them better, Jay and Del bought 10 acres of wooded land in Alto, Texas. They built a home, filled with treasured reminders of their Navy years and travels, grew fresh fruits and vegetables, went swimming in their pool, and enjoyed visits from children and grandchildren. They connected with their small community by attending Sunday services at the Camp Ground Baptist Church, led by "Brother Jim" Pastor James Goforth, Sr.
Del devoted much of her time in retirement to sewing, becoming a talented seamstress. She spent hours in her sewing room, making everything from clothing for herself and Jay, to beautiful quilts and baby blankets, to advanced machine embroidery designs. Sewing was a joyful, creative pursuit, one where Del was always learning something new, whether a new technique or trying out a new design. She learned online and connected with others who shared her love of sewing by taking advanced local sewing classes.
Jay and Del lived in their beloved Alto home until Jay passed away on October 8, 2014. Del then moved to The Forum, in The Woodlands, Texas, where she was well cared for and was close to her son Dwight and daughter-in-law Shelley.
Del is survived by three children: Dennis Jay (partner Camille) Alexander, Durinda Joyce (husband Brinson) Hood and Dwight Russell (wife Shelley) Alexander. She is also survived and known as "Mimi" by grandchildren and great grandchildren. Grandchildren: Russell (wife Courtney) Alexander and Meredith Alexander (children of Dwight & Shelley); James (wife Deborah) Alexander (child of Dennis Alexander); and Stephanie J. Hood (husband Alan) McReynolds (child of Brinson and Durinda). She is also survived by great grandchildren: Dillon and Isabella (children of James and Deborah); and Fiona (child of Stephanie & Alan). Del is also survived by Tiffany, widowed wife of deceased grandchild Brian Alexander (child of son Dennis) and three children: Brooklin, Jaksin and Keegan.
Allen Funeral Services, Inc., Alto.
Named Ludie after her father, Lude W. Hamilton, and her mother, Annie Odell (Davidson) Hamilton, she was known throughout her life as "Del." Before Del's birth on September 21, 1924 in Cherokee, Texas, her father passed away in Conroe, Texas on February 29, 1924. After her father Lude died, the family moved to Redlawn, Texas. Del had 8 siblings, including one who died as an infant in 1921.
Del married James "Jay" Wesley Alexander whom she met on a blind date in Corpus Christi and married on March 13, 1943 in Nueces, Texas. They were married at her mother's bedside, without the ceremony that was being planned for a later date, so that her mother could witness their wedding. Del's mother died on July 21, 1943.
Jay served in the U.S. Navy for 30 years, retiring as a commander in 1971. Jay and Del spent those Navy years in several locations, including Imperial Beach, California; Memphis Tennessee; Arlington, Virginia; Norfolk, Virginia; Yokohama, Japan; and Keflavik, Iceland. Once Jay retired, they traveled in Europe before moving back into the home they had built years before in Imperial Beach, California.
After moving back to Imperial Beach and realizing that a quieter, more rural life would suit them better, Jay and Del bought 10 acres of wooded land in Alto, Texas. They built a home, filled with treasured reminders of their Navy years and travels, grew fresh fruits and vegetables, went swimming in their pool, and enjoyed visits from children and grandchildren. They connected with their small community by attending Sunday services at the Camp Ground Baptist Church, led by "Brother Jim" Pastor James Goforth, Sr.
Del devoted much of her time in retirement to sewing, becoming a talented seamstress. She spent hours in her sewing room, making everything from clothing for herself and Jay, to beautiful quilts and baby blankets, to advanced machine embroidery designs. Sewing was a joyful, creative pursuit, one where Del was always learning something new, whether a new technique or trying out a new design. She learned online and connected with others who shared her love of sewing by taking advanced local sewing classes.
Jay and Del lived in their beloved Alto home until Jay passed away on October 8, 2014. Del then moved to The Forum, in The Woodlands, Texas, where she was well cared for and was close to her son Dwight and daughter-in-law Shelley.
Del is survived by three children: Dennis Jay (partner Camille) Alexander, Durinda Joyce (husband Brinson) Hood and Dwight Russell (wife Shelley) Alexander. She is also survived and known as "Mimi" by grandchildren and great grandchildren. Grandchildren: Russell (wife Courtney) Alexander and Meredith Alexander (children of Dwight & Shelley); James (wife Deborah) Alexander (child of Dennis Alexander); and Stephanie J. Hood (husband Alan) McReynolds (child of Brinson and Durinda). She is also survived by great grandchildren: Dillon and Isabella (children of James and Deborah); and Fiona (child of Stephanie & Alan). Del is also survived by Tiffany, widowed wife of deceased grandchild Brian Alexander (child of son Dennis) and three children: Brooklin, Jaksin and Keegan.
Allen Funeral Services, Inc., Alto.
On the morning of July 23, 2022 Del passed away peacefully of natural causes, after experiencing a long period of gradually declining health while living at The Forum in the Woodlands, Texas. She was 97 years old.
Named Ludie after her father, Lude W. Hamilton, and her mother, Annie Odell (Davidson) Hamilton, she was known throughout her life as "Del." Before Del's birth on September 21, 1924 in Cherokee, Texas, her father passed away in Conroe, Texas on February 29, 1924. After her father Lude died, the family moved to Redlawn, Texas. Del had 8 siblings, including one who died as an infant in 1921.
Del married James "Jay" Wesley Alexander whom she met on a blind date in Corpus Christi and married on March 13, 1943 in Nueces, Texas. They were married at her mother's bedside, without the ceremony that was being planned for a later date, so that her mother could witness their wedding. Del's mother died on July 21, 1943.
Jay served in the U.S. Navy for 30 years, retiring as a commander in 1971. Jay and Del spent those Navy years in several locations, including Imperial Beach, California; Memphis Tennessee; Arlington, Virginia; Norfolk, Virginia; Yokohama, Japan; and Keflavik, Iceland. Once Jay retired, they traveled in Europe before moving back into the home they had built years before in Imperial Beach, California.
After moving back to Imperial Beach and realizing that a quieter, more rural life would suit them better, Jay and Del bought 10 acres of wooded land in Alto, Texas. They built a home, filled with treasured reminders of their Navy years and travels, grew fresh fruits and vegetables, went swimming in their pool, and enjoyed visits from children and grandchildren. They connected with their small community by attending Sunday services at the Camp Ground Baptist Church, led by "Brother Jim" Pastor James Goforth, Sr.
Del devoted much of her time in retirement to sewing, becoming a talented seamstress. She spent hours in her sewing room, making everything from clothing for herself and Jay, to beautiful quilts and baby blankets, to advanced machine embroidery designs. Sewing was a joyful, creative pursuit, one where Del was always learning something new, whether a new technique or trying out a new design. She learned online and connected with others who shared her love of sewing by taking advanced local sewing classes.
Jay and Del lived in their beloved Alto home until Jay passed away on October 8, 2014. Del then moved to The Forum, in The Woodlands, Texas, where she was well cared for and was close to her son Dwight and daughter-in-law Shelley.
Del is survived by three children: Dennis Jay (partner Camille) Alexander, Durinda Joyce (husband Brinson) Hood and Dwight Russell (wife Shelley) Alexander. She is also survived and known as "Mimi" by grandchildren and great grandchildren. Grandchildren: Russell (wife Courtney) Alexander and Meredith Alexander (children of Dwight & Shelley); James (wife Deborah) Alexander (child of Dennis Alexander); and Stephanie J. Hood (husband Alan) McReynolds (child of Brinson and Durinda). She is also survived by great grandchildren: Dillon and Isabella (children of James and Deborah); and Fiona (child of Stephanie & Alan). Del is also survived by Tiffany, widowed wife of deceased grandchild Brian Alexander (child of son Dennis) and three children: Brooklin, Jaksin and Keegan.
Allen Funeral Services, Inc., Alto.
Named Ludie after her father, Lude W. Hamilton, and her mother, Annie Odell (Davidson) Hamilton, she was known throughout her life as "Del." Before Del's birth on September 21, 1924 in Cherokee, Texas, her father passed away in Conroe, Texas on February 29, 1924. After her father Lude died, the family moved to Redlawn, Texas. Del had 8 siblings, including one who died as an infant in 1921.
Del married James "Jay" Wesley Alexander whom she met on a blind date in Corpus Christi and married on March 13, 1943 in Nueces, Texas. They were married at her mother's bedside, without the ceremony that was being planned for a later date, so that her mother could witness their wedding. Del's mother died on July 21, 1943.
Jay served in the U.S. Navy for 30 years, retiring as a commander in 1971. Jay and Del spent those Navy years in several locations, including Imperial Beach, California; Memphis Tennessee; Arlington, Virginia; Norfolk, Virginia; Yokohama, Japan; and Keflavik, Iceland. Once Jay retired, they traveled in Europe before moving back into the home they had built years before in Imperial Beach, California.
After moving back to Imperial Beach and realizing that a quieter, more rural life would suit them better, Jay and Del bought 10 acres of wooded land in Alto, Texas. They built a home, filled with treasured reminders of their Navy years and travels, grew fresh fruits and vegetables, went swimming in their pool, and enjoyed visits from children and grandchildren. They connected with their small community by attending Sunday services at the Camp Ground Baptist Church, led by "Brother Jim" Pastor James Goforth, Sr.
Del devoted much of her time in retirement to sewing, becoming a talented seamstress. She spent hours in her sewing room, making everything from clothing for herself and Jay, to beautiful quilts and baby blankets, to advanced machine embroidery designs. Sewing was a joyful, creative pursuit, one where Del was always learning something new, whether a new technique or trying out a new design. She learned online and connected with others who shared her love of sewing by taking advanced local sewing classes.
Jay and Del lived in their beloved Alto home until Jay passed away on October 8, 2014. Del then moved to The Forum, in The Woodlands, Texas, where she was well cared for and was close to her son Dwight and daughter-in-law Shelley.
Del is survived by three children: Dennis Jay (partner Camille) Alexander, Durinda Joyce (husband Brinson) Hood and Dwight Russell (wife Shelley) Alexander. She is also survived and known as "Mimi" by grandchildren and great grandchildren. Grandchildren: Russell (wife Courtney) Alexander and Meredith Alexander (children of Dwight & Shelley); James (wife Deborah) Alexander (child of Dennis Alexander); and Stephanie J. Hood (husband Alan) McReynolds (child of Brinson and Durinda). She is also survived by great grandchildren: Dillon and Isabella (children of James and Deborah); and Fiona (child of Stephanie & Alan). Del is also survived by Tiffany, widowed wife of deceased grandchild Brian Alexander (child of son Dennis) and three children: Brooklin, Jaksin and Keegan.
Allen Funeral Services, Inc., Alto.
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