Virginia Maxine Pettyjohn Sultenfuss Doran, lovingly referred to by family as "Toots", passed away in Boerne on Saturday, March 16, 2013. She was 89 years old. She was born in Arkansas on August 12, 1923, to R.M. and Jennie Pettyjohn. A graveside service honoring her life will be held at Westlawn Cemetery in Del Rio on Friday, March 22, 2013, at 1:00 p.m.
Maxine married Udo Sultenfuss on August 15, 1947. The couple lived in Del Rio, Brackettville, and Langtry, Texas ranching at those locations during their marriage. Maxine taught school at Del Rio and Brackettville for 33 years. She filled the dual role of professional woman and rancher's wife. During the Langtry years in the 50's drought, she often stayed in Del Rio for the teaching week and traveled many miles to the ranch house for the weekends, cooking for Udo for the coming week. She was widowed at Udo's death on April 1, 1976.
Maxine had a brief marriage to Hillary Doran of Del Rio before she was again widowed. Her retirement years were spent in Sun City, Phoenix and for many years at Walnut Ridge, Arkansas near the town of her birth. She enjoyed the renewal of friendships from her childhood. She was active at First Presbyterian Church, Walnut Ridge and spent many hours china painting. Her fine porcelain pieces are treasured remembrances for many family members and friends.
Maxine is preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, her brother Robert J. Pettyjohn, and her sister Dorothy M. Pettyjohn. Maxine is survived by nieces Debra Silvestre and Sally Saunders and great-nieces Elizabeth Carvajal, Jenny Yovine, Giovanna Silvestre, Gessica Sivestre, and Makenzie Pettyjohn and 2 great nephews Adam and Cole Pettyjohn. The Sueltenfuss survivors are nieces, Dolores Holman and Leona Adam and nephews Arley Sueltenfuss, Leroy Becker, Jerry Becker and families.
Mrs. Doran will be remembered by her combination of Southern charm and Texas wit. Classy and sassy, she was all at once a woman full of beauty, independence, spunk, kindness and compassion. Blessing us with almost 90 years here on earth, she knew that fun and joy brought a quality to one's life that quantity of years could not account for. Her wit and wisdom entertained us, charmed us, gave us comfort and made us fall in love with the great soul that she was and continues to be as she abides in eternal peace and glory. She also saw the human spirit with great clarity and was the humblest giver to those in need around her. No better life could she have lived, no better example could she have set for courage through the hard times and appreciation for love and fun at all times.
To leave condolences for the family, please visit www.ebensberger-fisher.com and select the Obituaries tab. Memorials may be made in Maxine's name to a charity of your choice.
Arrangements with Ebensberger-Fisher Funeral Home of Boerne.