1908
Dorothy
2008
Dorothy Lansford
February 22, 1908 — January 25, 2008
Dorothy Baker Lansford was taken into heaven on January 25, 2008. She passed away in Harlingen, Texas just 28 days shy of her 100th birthday.
Dorothy was born February 22, 1908 in Big Spring, Texas to Albert Wesley Baker and Ursula Craven Baker. She graduated from Alva High School in Alva, Oklahoma and earned a Lifetime teaching certification from Northwestern State Teacher’s College in Oklahoma. She also attended Oklahoma Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dorothy completed a Bachelor of Science degree in the School of Education at Florida State University and a Master’s degree in Education from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. She also earned Lifetime Certifications for Educational Administration, Principal, and Superintendent.
Dorothy married Rev. William Harrison Lansford in 1928. Bill was called as Pastor of First Baptist Church in Heber Springs, Arkansas in 1942. He served as Pastor until the military called him into active service as a military chaplain during World War II. While Bill served 22 months overseas, Dorothy continued to teach in Heber Springs, where she and their four sons built a beautiful home which still stands today on Pine Street across from Heber Springs High School. Dorothy and Bill were married for 56 years when Bill died.
Bill also served as a military chaplain during the Korean War. His military career led them to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and then to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. Dorothy and Bill stayed in San Antonio until their retirement at which time they returned to Heber Springs and the family home on Pine Street. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the Heber Springs First Baptist Church in 1978. During her retirement, Dorothy enjoyed gardening, painting, and sewing, and she continued working with the children of First Baptist Church in Heber Springs.
Dorothy was a first grade teacher for 31 years. At the beginning of her teaching career, Dorothy was Heber Spring’s only first grade teacher and taught 80 students each day. Dorothy served the Lord throughout her life as a Children’s Worship Leader and as a Sunday School teacher in Heber Springs, Arkansas, at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, and in San Antonio, Texas. Dorothy worked with the children of the First Baptist Church in Heber Springs as a Director of the Children I class and as the Children’s Worship Leader from 1974-1990. The church honored her years of service in a special ceremony in 1987. She touched many lives as a teacher in numerous schools and churches and as a minister’s wife. Her family will always appreciate the impact Dorothy’s teaching had on her many students in schools and churches.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her late husband, Rev. William Harrison Lansford and her son Gordon Wesley Lansford, CPA.
Dorothy is survived by her sons Doyle Keith (Tommie) Lansford, M.D. of Mansfield, Texas; Rev. William Earl (Marlene) Lansford, MSW; and Rev. Carl Edwin (Kathleen) Lansford, Ed.D. She is also survived by Mrs. Gordon (Phyllis) Lansford, 8 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren. Dorothy lived her final years in Harlingen, Texas near her youngest son.
Funeral services will be held January 31 at 2:00 P.M. at First Baptist Church in Heber Springs with burial at Cleburne County Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
You are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.buck-ashcraft.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
Dorothy was born February 22, 1908 in Big Spring, Texas to Albert Wesley Baker and Ursula Craven Baker. She graduated from Alva High School in Alva, Oklahoma and earned a Lifetime teaching certification from Northwestern State Teacher’s College in Oklahoma. She also attended Oklahoma Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dorothy completed a Bachelor of Science degree in the School of Education at Florida State University and a Master’s degree in Education from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. She also earned Lifetime Certifications for Educational Administration, Principal, and Superintendent.
Dorothy married Rev. William Harrison Lansford in 1928. Bill was called as Pastor of First Baptist Church in Heber Springs, Arkansas in 1942. He served as Pastor until the military called him into active service as a military chaplain during World War II. While Bill served 22 months overseas, Dorothy continued to teach in Heber Springs, where she and their four sons built a beautiful home which still stands today on Pine Street across from Heber Springs High School. Dorothy and Bill were married for 56 years when Bill died.
Bill also served as a military chaplain during the Korean War. His military career led them to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and then to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. Dorothy and Bill stayed in San Antonio until their retirement at which time they returned to Heber Springs and the family home on Pine Street. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the Heber Springs First Baptist Church in 1978. During her retirement, Dorothy enjoyed gardening, painting, and sewing, and she continued working with the children of First Baptist Church in Heber Springs.
Dorothy was a first grade teacher for 31 years. At the beginning of her teaching career, Dorothy was Heber Spring’s only first grade teacher and taught 80 students each day. Dorothy served the Lord throughout her life as a Children’s Worship Leader and as a Sunday School teacher in Heber Springs, Arkansas, at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, and in San Antonio, Texas. Dorothy worked with the children of the First Baptist Church in Heber Springs as a Director of the Children I class and as the Children’s Worship Leader from 1974-1990. The church honored her years of service in a special ceremony in 1987. She touched many lives as a teacher in numerous schools and churches and as a minister’s wife. Her family will always appreciate the impact Dorothy’s teaching had on her many students in schools and churches.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her late husband, Rev. William Harrison Lansford and her son Gordon Wesley Lansford, CPA.
Dorothy is survived by her sons Doyle Keith (Tommie) Lansford, M.D. of Mansfield, Texas; Rev. William Earl (Marlene) Lansford, MSW; and Rev. Carl Edwin (Kathleen) Lansford, Ed.D. She is also survived by Mrs. Gordon (Phyllis) Lansford, 8 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren. Dorothy lived her final years in Harlingen, Texas near her youngest son.
Funeral services will be held January 31 at 2:00 P.M. at First Baptist Church in Heber Springs with burial at Cleburne County Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
You are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.buck-ashcraft.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dorothy Lansford, please visit our flower store.