Neva Henderson Donald, Phd
December 19, 1910 — May 9, 2008
Neva Henderson Donald died May 9, 2008, at the Village at Northrise in Las Cruces, NM, at age 97. Neva Jewell Isom was born to Sumner Edward Isom and Della Mae Ratliff Isom on a farm in the Shiloh community near Lewisville, Texas on December 19, 1910. She attended rural schools through the 10th grade, then moved to Denton, Texas, and graduated from Teachers College High School in 19...
Neva Henderson Donald died May 9, 2008, at the Village at Northrise in Las Cruces, NM, at age 97. Neva Jewell Isom was born to Sumner Edward Isom and Della Mae Ratliff Isom on a farm in the Shiloh community near Lewisville, Texas on December 19, 1910. She attended rural schools through the 10th grade, then moved to Denton, Texas, and graduated from Teachers College High School in 1928. She then entered North Texas State Teachers College and completed two semesters. Neva began her teaching career shortly thereafter in a small country school near Hebron, Texas, in the days before teaching credentials were mandatory for public schools. The job encouraged her to pursue a college education. Neva married H. R. Van Zandt in 1934. She and H.R. had a son, Homer. Neva and H.R. were divorced in 1935. Neva received a B.A. degree from Texas State College for Women in 1937 and, following graduation, taught school for a short time before joining the Texas Extension Service. She served as County Home Demonstration Agent in Knox, Jack and Ellis Counties in Texas before leaving the Extension Service. Neva married R.L. (Leroy) Henderson of Jacksboro, Texas, in 1946, and resumed teaching school, in Jacksboro, in 1947. During the next few years, she taught in the Jacksboro elementary and high schools while continuing her college work, earning a MA degree and eventually a PhD from TSCW, now known as Texas Woman's University. After receiving her PhD, she became Director of the Depart...
Neva Henderson Donald died May 9, 2008, at the Village at Northrise in Las Cruces, NM, at age 97. Neva Jewell Isom was born to Sumner Edward Isom and Della Mae Ratliff Isom on a farm in the Shiloh community near Lewisville, Texas on December 19, 1910. She attended rural schools through the 10th grade, then moved to Denton, Texas, and graduated from Teachers College High School in 1928. She then entered North Texas State Teachers College and completed two semesters. Neva began her teaching career shortly thereafter in a small country school near Hebron, Texas, in the days before teaching credentials were mandatory for public schools. The job encouraged her to pursue a college education. Neva married H. R. Van Zandt in 1934. She and H.R. had a son, Homer. Neva and H.R. were divorced in 1935. Neva received a B.A. degree from Texas State College for Women in 1937 and, following graduation, taught school for a short time before joining the Texas Extension Service. She served as County Home Demonstration Agent in Knox, Jack and Ellis Counties in Texas before leaving the Extension Service. Neva married R.L. (Leroy) Henderson of Jacksboro, Texas, in 1946, and resumed teaching school, in Jacksboro, in 1947. During the next few years, she taught in the Jacksboro elementary and high schools while continuing her college work, earning a MA degree and eventually a PhD from TSCW, now known as Texas Woman's University. After receiving her PhD, she became Director of the Department of Household Arts and Sciences (Home Economics) at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. She held that position from 1954 until 1964. After retiring from SHSU, Neva returned to Jacksboro and she and Leroy raised cattle along with operating the family air conditioning business until Leroy's death in 1982. Neva was a member of the First Baptist Church of Jacksboro, and was active in church and community activities throughout all her years in Jacksboro. In 1989, Neva married R. L. Donald, Jr., a long-time family friend, whom she had known and dated in high school. They lived together at R.L.'s home in Lewisville until his death in 1995 and Neva again returned to Jacksboro. After a short stay, she moved to Denton, where she resided for two years. In late 2002, because of failing health, she moved to Las Cruces, NM, to be near her son and daughter-in-law. She resided in Las Cruces until her death. She is survived by her son, Homer R. Van Zandt (MariLynn) of Las Cruces, NM, a stepson, Charles Wayne Henderson (Greta) of Weatherford, TX, two grandchildren, Kenneth A. Van Zandt (Monica) of Charlottesville, VA and Cynthia J. Van Zandt (James Rollins) of Portsmouth, NH, a sister, Johnnie Corbin of Denton, TX, and three great-grandchildren. Neva will be buried in Jacksboro, Texas. Funeral arrangements are pending with Coker Funeral Home in Jacksboro. Local arragments by Getz Funeral Home, 1410 E. Bowman Ave. Las Cruces, NM. To sign the local online guest book go to www.getzfuneralhome.com PDF Printable Version
READ LESSMORE
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Neva Henderson Donald, Phd, please visit our flower store.