Arabella Moneyhon Coleman

Arabella Moneyhon Coleman, a 4th generation Texan, passed away after living a full life of 93 years. She attended UT majoring in math (no daughter of J. P. Moneyhon’s was going to study engineering). In the mid-30’s she taught in 1-room schoolhouses in Mason & Llano Counties. She wed (married women couldn’t teach school) and went to work for the Army Corps of Engineers when WWII started. She returned to Austin to have her daughter, while her husband shipped out to the Pacific. In 1946 Arabella and her daughter joined her husband in Japan with subsequent postings in Monterey, CA, Ft Bragg, NC and Washington DC. In 1949, Arabella returned to Austin and worked for the Defense Research Labs associated with UT research center, now ARL at the JJ Pickle Research Campus. From 1956 - 1978, she worked for the State Highway Department in their Automation Division. Arabella filled her time traveling, gardening, playing bridge and enjoyed spending many precious hours with her family after her retirement. She learned to play bridge as a UT freshman and there was no question that bridge was her game. She played with her beloved bridge group on November 27 and was high point for the day. Arabella was the rock of her family caring of her mother, father & daughter. This lovely, kind, intelligent, capable & very strong woman has left us. Arabella will be missed by her daughter, Bonnie, son-in-law, Scott, numerous cousins and dear friends. Special thanks to the Gipson's of Hycrest House and Dr. Isabel Hoverman for their loving care of Arabella. We will celebrate Arabella’s life at 11am, Saturday, December 16, at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, at 8134 Mesa Dr., Austin, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Salvation Army, American Heart Assn or Capital Area Food Bank. Obituary and guestbook online at wcfish.com