Belva Claire Savage

Belva Claire Ball Savage, died on March 6, 2016 at the age of 90 in Cleveland, Texas. She was born August 16, 1925 to William Lafayette and Lela Custer Brown Ball in Beverly, near Natchez, Mississippi.

Services are under the direction of Pace-Stancil Funeral Home, Dayton. Visitation Tuesday, March 8, 6-8 at Pace-Stancil; Services Wednesday, March 9, 2 pm, First United Methodist Church Dayton; interment at Magnolia Park Cemetery.

She graduated from Natchez High School and attended Louisiana State University. After one year at LSU, she dropped out to support the WWII effort by serving as an office worker in a New Orleans factory that built PBY Catalinas, a sea-going plane. When the war ended, she returned to college, graduating from The University of Texas at Austin, and began teaching high school home economics. In 1949 she married Harold W. Savage, whom she met when they were students at UT Austin.

After a move to Dayton, Texas in 1955, and a few years off to nurture their young family, she returned to teaching. She taught 3rd grade in Dayton for nearly 30 years. She liked 3rd grade because the students had already learned some academic skills but still loved their teachers. During that time she earned her master's degree, with a reading specialty. She retired from teaching to care for her elderly mother. She was a life-long educator, tutoring children during her retirement through the Big Brothers & Big Sisters program and returning occasionally to the classroom.

Belva was a faithful member of First United Methodist Church, Dayton, where she taught Vacation Bible School and Sunday School for many years and was involved in the church’s women activities.

She was a skilled seamstress, enjoyed reading, going to museums, crafts, making jellies & preserves, and the beach. She delighted in her grandchildren!

Belva is predeceased by her parents; husband of 60 years, Harold W. Savage; son, Bill Savage; son-in-law, Lee Burch; in-laws Jim & Betty Savage and Howard Reeves. She is survived by her daughters and son-in-law, Lea Ellen Burch and Becky & Brad Burditt, of Dayton; daughter-in-law, Donna Savage, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; grandchildren: Emily Morris, and husband, Dave, Daniel Burch, Ashley Burditt, Claire Stiles, and husband, Blake, Jake Savage, Tyler Burditt, and Phillip Burch, along with three great-grandchildren. In addition, Belva's sister and her husband, Ann and Jack Quinn of Dallas, Texas; sister-in-law, June Reeves of Kingwood, Texas, and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives also survive her.

Our family greatly appreciates the loving care given to Belva by the staffs of Country Haven Senior Care, Feels Just Like Home, and Professional Health Care-Hospice. All of you touched our lives.