Lucy V. Salas

Lucille “Lucy” V. Salas, 87, was called home to our Lord and Savior on Saturday, December 1st, 2018. Lucy was born on July 6th, 1931, at the original Parkland Hospital on Oak Lawn Avenue to parents Hillario Valtierra and Lina Ramirez Valtierra.

Lucy will always be remembered as a loving mother, faithful servant of the Lord and friend to all that knew and loved her. She grew up in Little Mexico in Dallas. She attended Travis Elementary, Crozier Tech and took classes at Brookhaven Community College. She married Cristobal “Chris” Salas in 1947. In 1995, they moved from the Little Mexico projects into a new home in Farmers Branch. They joined Webb Chapel United Methodist Church after meeting Mrs. Vivian Field, who taught Sunday school at Webb Chapel.

Lucy started at Texas Instruments in 1958 as an assembly line worker. She worked her way up to Inspector, working with Jack Kelby. She remained at TI for 33 years and her peers knew her as Mama Lucy. She was an active TI Retiree, participating in the TI Alumnus program.

Lucy and Cristobal had three children; Chris, Steve and Rosie. Lucy was very active in the Methodist church serving as a youth leader. She loved to cook and was well known for her enchiladas and tamales. She was very involved with the Carrolton and Farmers Branch senior center. She played ukulele and entertained hundreds of people in nursing homes and community organizations. She sang in the church choir and remained an honorary choir member to this day. Lucy often visited those who were less fortunate, providing them with friendship and an Upper Room to spread the word of God. Lucy had a gleeful heart, loved to play bingo and watch Wheel of Fortune. She never missed an opportunity to sing a song, share the Lord’s word and tell a few jokes.

Lucy was also known for her crochet towels. She was known as the “Towel Lady” as she handed out crocheted towels by the dozens. She was well known by the Dallas Cowboys, who she often met at training camp and Brad Sham’s talk show. She was an active humanitarian, volunteering at Metrocrest Social Services, where she received the Volunteer of the Year award in 2011. She also aided with the Carrolton elections and was an active member of the Benevolent, Patriotic Order of Does. She helped obtain info for the WWII memorial in Washington, D.C., honoring her husband, who served in the Navy. She helped establish a non-profit community medical clinic which still exists today. She loved to entertain and make people happy. Her jokes and gleeful personality resonated with everyone she met.

She was proceeded in death by her husband, Cristobal I. Salas, son Chris U. Salas, parents Hillario Valtierra and Lina Ramirez Valtierra, siblings Angie Barton, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Juanita Velez, Umberto Valtierra, Ramon Valtierra and son-in-law, Jim Kurtz. She is survived by son Steve Salas, daughter Rosie Salas Kurtz, daughter-in-law Hilda Salas, grandson Robert J. Kurtz, wife Maresa Kurtz, great-grandchild, Olivia James Kurtz and grandson Michael A. Kurtz.

A Funeral Service will be held at Noon on Wednesday, December 5, 2018, at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7405 W. Northwest Hwy., Dallas, TX, 75225. Burial will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 3:30 pm to 7:30 pm, Tuesday, December 4, 2018, at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations in memorial may be made to Webb Chapel United Methodist Church, 2536 Valley View Lane, Farmers Branch, TX, 75234. Online condolences can be made at www.sparkman-hillcrest.com.