Delilah Belle Gillispie Willingham (90) departed this life on August 20, 2023. She was born on May 17, 1933, in Pickton, Texas, to the late Troy and Minnie Lee (Brown) Gillispie.

Delilah graduated from Sulphur Springs High School in 1952. She attended East Texas State University in Commerce and graduated with both a Bachelors and Masters degree in education. She started her teaching career in Texas City and Liberty, Texas, however, she spent the majority of her teaching career with the Richardson Independent School District finishing with a total of 39 years.

Delilah married Larry Willingham, July 29, 1967, and they shared 49 years of marriage before Larry’s passing in September of 2016. They lived in Dallas all their married years. Delilah was a Baptist by faith.

Delilah and Larry loved traveling and visited several countries during their time together. She viewed travel as a way to see the world after growing up in a small East Texas town.

Delilah was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband, Larry, her sister, Patsy Walters, and her sister-in-law, Patsy Alexis. She is survived by her brother-in-law, Tommy Walters, sister-in-law, Mary Partlow, her nephew and niece, Scott and Brenda Walters who have been her caregivers the past five years along with Wesley House family in Sulphur Springs. Delilah is also survived by nephews Larry Phillips, Dozier Partlow, John Partlow, and nieces Beth Phillips, and Miriam McHenry.

There will be a private family graveside service at a later date.

Family requests any memorials be made to the: Pickton Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 108, Pickton, Texas, 75471 Choice Hospice, 601 Airport Rd.

Ste. 120, Sulphur Springs, Texas, 75482 St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee, 38105