Violet Deloice (Allen) Dalton (1914 - 2008)

Born 20 May 1914 in Beeville, Bee, Texas, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 24 Mar 2008 at age 93 in Willits, Mendocino, California, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Richard Dalton [send private message]

Biography

My grandmother's given name was Violet which she did not like and always went by Deloice. My grandmother was a woman with her own mind even at a young age. She was determined to find ways to make things happen so everyone could sit at the table. She exemplified to me and to many people throughout her life Unconditional Love. "Domi" as we grand children called her told a story of playing with a neighbor when she was about 4 or 5 years old. She and the neighbor had been friends and playing with each other for quite some time - months or longer. One day the pastor of the church she went to was visiting with her mother and they came out to her and said that she couldn't play with the neighbor anymore because 'we are Baptists' and she is Mexican and Catholic. My grandmother said she didn't miss a beat and simply replied with a big smile, [I don't remember exactly but something like]: 'I'm talking to her about Jesus to convert her while we're playing.' Then her mom and the pastor said, 'Oh, well then, that's good. Go ahead and play.' My grandmother says she had no intention of trying to convert her friend. She was her friend and she just wanted to play with her friend. Deloice was an Avon sales manager for many years until she became quite ill in the mid 1960's. She was a very successful Avon manager. As children we would sometimes go to her sales meetings with our mom. The tables were decorated with items hand made and selected for each of her sales team members. She really enjoyed and cared for her Corvair. I remember her telling a story about picking up sales ladies to go to a meeting. She had already picked four women up, three were in the back seat, one in the front seat, and the next woman was African American. The woman in the front seat wouldn't move over and was visibly upset. My grandmother in her calm way said something to the effect of, 'you can move over, you can go sit in the back seat or you can walk or take a bus.' And then when the African American sales woman sat in the front my grandmother says she said to her, 'isn't it nice how much room we have to sit here in the front.' Loud enough for all the women to hear and know how prejudiced they were and how poorly they were behaving. The saleswoman and my grandmother enjoyed a comfortable ride to the meeting while the four in the back seat were practically sitting on each other. This was in the early 1960's in Los Angeles.

Sources

• Birth certificate - Violet Deloice Dalton
• Marriage license - Deloice Violet Dalton to Lucian Robert Dalton
• Death certificate - Deloice Allen Dalton
• 1920 US Federal Census: Lubbock, Lubbock, Texas, USA, Family Lines 14-18: Elbert 29, machinist, Allie 25, Luther 7, Deloice 5, Lucile 10 months. Roll: T625_1829; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 173; Image: 925. National Archives & Records Administration.
• 1930 US Federal Census: Lubbock, Lubbock, Texas, USA. 1909 Avenue K, Dwelling #160, Family #198, Line 16: Head of Household: Albert T [Elbert] 38 Auto Mechanic, Line 17 wife Allie 36, Line 18 son Luther 18 Assistant garage, Line 19 daughter Deloice 15, Line 20 daughter Lucille 11, Line 21 daughter Bernice 7. Roll: 2372; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 5; Image: 213 National Archives & Records Administration.
• 1940 US Fed Census Santa Ana, Orange, California, USA
• The Tennessee Colony'', Compiled by Rhuy K Williams McMurry, (Mrs. W. L.), Greensburg, Kiowa, Kansas, USA 1966. Privately Issued. Pages 145-146.