Margaret Isabelle Blomdahl

She was born in Kimbro, Texas, at home on the 15th of November 1919, to Amanda and Albert F. Smith. She was the third born of four daughters. Both of her parents were of Swedish descent. Her mother emigrated from Sweden through Ellis Island, New York. Isabelle grew up in Austin where her family attended the First Evangelical Free Church. She started taking piano lessons at age seven and moved to the organ at age 12. Isabelle became a church organist at the age of 12 at First Presbyterian Church in Austin. For the next 75 years, God opened doors for her to study, serve and perform in Austin, the Chicago area, Dallas, and Houston.

Isabelle attended the University of Texas at Austin where she was nominated as a Bluebonnet Belle. After a semester at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, she then enrolled in Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music in 1941.

Shortly after her graduation from Wheaton, Isabelle married Woodrow Everette Blomdahl, and they initially settled in Dallas. While there, Isabelle studied at Southern Methodist University under Dora Poteet Barclay (a former pupil of Marcel Dupre, the famous French organist.) It was during this time Isabelle was named Dean of the Texas Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Isabelle and Woodrow had celebrated 60 years of marriage one month prior to Woodrow’s death in 2001.

Moving to Houston in 1950, Isabelle accepted the organist position at Berachah Church and remained there until 1965. Following that position, she became organist at Bethel Independent Presbyterian Church, where she served for over 40 years.

Isabelle was a faithful reader of the Bible and had a deep faith and trust in God. She never missed an opportunity to tell others about the Lord.

She is survived by her four children and their spouses, Bill and Nancy Blomdahl, Colleen Blomdahl Paxton, Carolyn and Tim Lugbill, and Alan and Bethany Blomdahl; her ten grandchildren, Elizabeth Blomdahl Spivey and Dalton, Amanda Blomdahl Weathers, and Shane, Jeremy Paxton, Christopher Paxton, Christian Lugbill, Colson Lugbill, Lars Blomdahl, Seth Blomdahl, Isabelle Blomdahl, and William Blomdahl. She is also survived by two great granddaughters, Brooklyn and Blake Weathers. She leaves several nieces and nephews, Smitty Johnson and wife Rue; Vangie McLemore and husband Charles; Judy Westlund and husband Richard; Arnold Blomdahl III, all of Austin. Gloria Brinkman and husband Bill of Dallas; Letha Guy and husband Jim; Jeanne Alsup and husband Al, Ginger Richard and Chery Richard, all of Houston.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until eight o’clock in the evening on Wednesday, the 21st of June, in the parlor and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A memorial service and celebration of her life is to be conducted at one o’clock in the afternoon on Thursday, the 22nd of June, at Bethel Church of Houston, 825 Bering Drive in Houston, where Rev. Dwayne Camp will officiate.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent fellowship hall.

Prior to the service, the family will have gathered for a private entombment service in the Oaks Mausoleum at Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that those desiring direct contributions in Isabelle’s memory to Camp Peniel, 6716 E. FM 1431, Marble Falls, TX, 78654; or to Bethel Church of Houston, 825 Bering Dr., Houston, TX, 77057.

“We love you mom. You will be greatly missed. Your music will always be remembered.”