Dates
Billie Van Court finally accomplished her last goal – to see Jesus. It happened on September 26, 2021. Billie Marie Wilbanks was born on February 2, 1927 to John W and Mary Wilbanks in San Angelo. She was an only child and lived her entire life in this area. She was a Baylor graduate, but followed her heart to be a rancher’s wife when she married Clifford (Tip) Van Court on June 15, 1948. They lived outside of Mertzon and outside of Christoval most of their married life. They had two sons who also carried on the tradition of ranching.
Billie was a wonderful baker, cook, seamstress, gardener and painter. She loved working in her garden and yard. They were works of art. She taught Sunday School at Christoval Baptist Church for over 50 years and established the library there. Billie started the church library in 1979 and acted as the librarian for over 30 years. When the church was remodeled, the library was dedicated in her honor. She was always involved in the mission fund raising as spreading the gospel was her passion. If you had the pleasure to know her, you only saw a happy, pleasant, and very strong woman. The epitome of a Texas Rancher’s Wife and Christian. When she and Tip moved into San Angelo, they attended Glen Meadows Baptist Church. Her Sunday School class was very special to her especially Alice Bruner and Dorothy Hall. Their weekly visits meant so much.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. She is survived by her eldest son Johnny Van Court and wife Phyllis, their daughter Lacy and husband Colby Mischefsky of Austin, their younger son Stephen Van Court of San Angelo, and her three favorite nieces, Lori Cooksey of Tyler, Janet Smith and husband Mark of Odessa, and Susan Van Court of Boerne. Being an only child, she was very close to her cousins and continued to be in contact with them until she died.
The family would like to thank the staff that cared for her from Angels Home Health, especially Meadow Creek Nursing Center and St. Gabriel’s Hospice.
Visitation will be Wednesday, September 29th from 5-7pm at Harper Funeral Home (please feel free to wear a mask if so inclined), and graveside services will be Thursday, September 30th at 1:00 pm at Fairmont Cemetery. Pall Bearers will be Bill Brown, George Dewolf, Jay Freitag, Richard Green, Martial Hairrell, and Mike Smith Due to COVID, feel free to send the family a message on Harper’s website instead of attending. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial to the Lottie Moon Mission, Billie’s favorite.
Visitation
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
5:00PM - 7:00PM
Harper Funeral Home
2606 Southland Boulevard
San Angelo, TX 76904
Graveside
Thursday, September 30, 2021
1:00PM
Fairmount Cemetery
1120 W. Ave. N
San Angelo, TX 76901