Dolly Elizabeth Airhart

Dolly Elizabeth Airhart, 91, of Winters, Texas, passed away January 10, 2021. Remembered for her sweet spirit, Dolly's soul was one of the kindest and gentlest to walk this earth.

She was born October 6, 1929, near Huntsville, Alabama, to James and Nola Hollandsworth. The second youngest of 13 kids, Dolly learned from a young age the importance of working together as a family. Her father always kept a garden, and as the older kids worked in the fields, Dolly mastered the ability to prepare wonderful meals using the simplest ingredients. This contribution to her childhood family became a gift that would nourish countless friends and family throughout her life.

When Dolly was around ten years old, her entire family made the long journey to Texas in two pick-up trucks. The youngest children rode under a makeshift camper in the back of one of the trucks, and meals were cooked by older brothers at the roadside. Only a little worse for the wear, they arrived on a farm in Martin County that would become the family home, and Dolly attended a country school where she met a cute boy from a neighboring farm, Bobby Airhart. They grew sweet on each other, dating throughout high school.

After graduating from Flower Grove High School, Bobby went to Lubbock to attend Texas Tech while Dolly studied business at Draughon's Business College in Abilene. Upon completion of their studies, Bobby and Dolly were married on Christmas Eve in 1950, beginning seven decades together in farming, horticulture and landscaping, and banking. Their journey together took them from Martin County to Big Spring, Muleshoe, Sundown, Amarillo, Brownwood, and eventually Runnels County, where they poured their hearts into community banking.

Dolly was a talented watercolorist, and her work is currently displayed at the Security State Bank locations in both Winters and Buffalo Gap. She also shared her gifts of hospitality and service freely with her community and was instrumental in establishing the Winters Woman's Club, serving as the first president. Additionally, Dolly enjoyed her role in the family business, serving as a director of the Security State Bank until the time of her death.

Her life was a living example of a favorite Bible verse, Ephesians 4:32 -- "And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ." She taught her grandchildren to always tell the truth, to show compassion through love and service to others, and to always work hard and do their best.

Dolly is survived by her husband of 70 years, Bobby; her children, Marci and Mike McDonald, and Paul and Becky Airhart; grandchildren, Leslie McDonald, Casey McDonald, Jared Airhart, Kinsey Airhart, and Kellyn Airhart Lesch; and four great-grandchildren Elliott and Owen Airhart, Birdie Rae and Iris Lesch. She will also be greatly missed by her caregiver Rosie Tamez. All of these she loved and touched deeply.

Services will be held on Saturday, January 23, 2021, at the First United Methodist Church of Winters at 2 p.m.