VIVIAN COOPER HORTON BILLS, 92, of Arlington,
TX passed away peacefully on April 16, 2020
with family by her side after a bout with
colon cancer, with burial in Evergreen
Cemetery at Ranger, TX.
She was born Nov. 3, 1927 in Ranger, TX where she
grew up and graduated from Ranger High School in
1945 before attending Texas Christian University.
She married James Horton (RHS-1945) of Big Springs,
TX in 1946 and later moved to Tulsa, OK, where
they had their three children: Sharon, Jim and
Jeff.
They later moved to East Brunswick, NJ, in order
for James to continue his career with American
Airlines in New York City. Upon James' death in
1964, the family moved to Arlington where Vivian
began her career with American Airlines Flight
Department at Love Field & later at DFW Airport.
After 30 years of service, Vivian retired from
American Airlines in 1995. She married Avon Bills
in 1971 and continued their lives together in
Arlington. Vivian loved to travel with family
and friends, planning many excursions to Europe,
Africa, and the U.S., including trips to Alaska
and Hawaii.
An avid sports fan, Vivian followed her son Jeff's
football coaching career for decades, attending
many regular season and bowl games all over the
country. But it was her love for the Texas Rangers
that drove her to work for the club for 16 years
as an usher at the Ballpark in Arlington. Even
at the age of 89, you would find her at every game,
regardless of weather, assisting fans and cheering
on her Rangers in the all-you-can-eat section of
the ballpark. She was a member of the Fox Run
Estate Senior Community, the Arlington Chapter of
the Widows/Widowers Group, and the Women's Red Hat
Society.
Vivian is preceded in death by her parents, V.V. &
Vera Blackwell (RHS-1919) Cooper, her first husband,
James Horton and second husband, Avon Bills.
Her beautiful life will forever by cherished by her
two sons, Jim Horton & wife, Brenda, and Jeff Horton
and wife, Teri; one daughter, Sharon Stum & husband,
Steve. She also leaves behind grandchildren, Colby
Horton, wife, Cheryl, Deanna Eggleston, husband, Lee,
Lisa Castilleja, husband Nick, Connie Stum and great-
grandchildren, Julia, Emma, Matthew, Austin, Taylor,
Adrian and Zane.