Texas A&M Baseball Family Mourns Passing of Willowdean Chandler
Mar 12, 2015 | Baseball
Beatrice Willowdean Drummond Chandler
July 14, 1927 - March 6, 2015
Beatrice Willowdean Drummond Chandler passed away at home on March 6, 2015, after a short illness. She was born in Greenville, Texas, on July 14, 1927. She grew up in Corsicana and Waco, graduating from Waco High School. She earned a Bachelor's degree in music from Baylor University in 1948. It was at Baylor that she met and married Tom Chandler, her husband of 53 years.
Willowdean and Tom had two children, Nancy Suzanne and Tom Dean, who grew up surrounded by the Traditions of Aggieland, while their father, Tom, served as Texas A&M baseball coach, and Willowdean served as the No. 1 Aggie baseball fan. Although her first passion was being the ultimate coach's wife, Willowdean was also a teacher in Dallas and Bryan, starting her own kindergarten program in Bryan in the early 1970's. In 1972, Willowdean founded the Diamond Darlings to support Aggie baseball, one of the first organizations led by women at Texas A&M.
She also enjoyed painting and music, and shared in her daughter's love for horses while assisting in the leadership of the Brazos County Equestrian 4H Club. She was a member of the A&M Methodist Church.
Willowdean was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Chandler; parents, Thomas Edward and Ouida Beatrice Drummond; and brother, Thomas Royall Drummond.
Willowdean is survived by her children, Nancy Eppers and husband, Kenny, of Krum, Texas; and son, Tom Dean Chandler of Kemah, Texas; sister, Gail King and husband, Bob, of Dallas, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Friday, March 13, 2015, at Hillier Funeral Home, 2301 E. 29th Street, Bryan, Texas, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Graveside service will be at the College Station Cemetery, 2530 Texas Avenue South, on Saturday, March 14, at 11:00 a.m.
Please share memories and tributes to Willowdean at www.hillierfuneralhome.com.
