Lura Vanzant was born in Coffeyville KS on 4 February 1933.  Her family moved several times, due to her father's work and they spent several years in Oklahoma where she received most of her public education. Lura joined the Air Force in October 1951. Among her many memorable moments as an Airman was being chosen straight out of Basic Training at Lackland AFB to replace the Base Commander's secretary, due to her one year of college and civilian experience.  When fellow recruits graduated and went home for Christmas, Lura spent her two-week Christmas break being driven by staff car to/from work for the General. She spent most of her career stationed at Ft. Meyer, Virginia, performing clerical and administrative duties for the Special Activities unit in the Pentagon.

Lura left active military service in 1954 and was immediately hired as a civilian employee. In 1963, Lura married Korean War veteran James Vanzant whose civil service work, like Lura's, involved using a dictaphone to transpose official records. She flourished in her gatekeeper role as the Lackland AFB Pharmacy Secretary, denying then future President Lyndon B. Johnson his medication until he provided proper credentials. When asked by his security detail if she knew who he was, "General Lee" (as she was affectionately referred to by pharmacy coworkers) responded that he "looked familiar."  After a rewarding career on military active duty and 35 years in Civil Service, Lura retired in San Antonio TX.  In 2003, she moved to Blanco to be with family, after experiencing health issues. She volunteered at the Blanco Library, local museum, and was the oldest member of both American Legion Post 352 and Auxiliary Unit 352, upon her passing on 6 May 2024. She was surrounded by her loving family when she passed peacefully, to be with our Father in Heaven.

Lura "Mom" was a true patriot, inspiration, and joy to all she encountered. She will be greatly missed! She and her late husband shared nine children, eleven grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren:

Sandy Vanzant (passed) and children Jeff Frazier and Kristen (& Nicholas) Edwards

Bobby (& Betty) Vanzant and children:

Jennifer (& Michael) Segulia and children Alex, Ian (& Destinee), Morgann and her son Leo;

Jessica (& David) Vega and children Rebecca and Sophia;

Melody (& Matt) Ferstler and children Jakob and Grayson

Margie Vanzant (passed)

Jerry Vanzant

Judy Vanzant (& Chris) Lopez and children

Corey (& Elise) Lopez and their children Reese and Lennox;

Kelly (& Matthew) Malik and daughter Emerson (Emme)

Richard Greene

Randi (& Teddy) Weeks and children:

Christopher (& Patricia) and children Davisto and Alicia;

Jennifer (& Shane) Johnson and children Ashley Andreason, Alexandria (& Austen) Pettis and their kids Jordy, Harper, and Charlotte; Emily (& Jack) Bennett; and William;

Robert (& Dawn) and sons Danny, David, and Matthew

Chuck (& Denise) Vanzant and daughter Deni (& Michael) Viggiano and their children Owen Michael, & Elliot Michael

Barry (& Donna) Vanzant

She was preceded in death by her parents: Van A.and Helen R. Millsap;sister: Beryl "Elaine" Faulk, widow (passed 12/19/08)

Nephews: Larry Pate, his wife Joyce, son Brian, daughter and several grandchildren

Niece: Diana Aronson, her husband Alvin "Pat", son Kevin, daughter-in-law Tara and granddaughter Lyra

Niece: Donna Grayson, her husband Steve, son Andrew.

Niece: Terri Faulk (passed 8/10/18), son Jeremy Lockridge, daughter LeeAnn Ryan and several grandchildren

Nephew: Richard Pate, wife: Romaine, son Richard Pate grandson L T Pate

Brother: Van R. And Shirley Millsap their son: Cary and family.

Funeral services will be held Monday, 13 May 2024 at Crofts-Crow Funeral Home Blanco, 911 Mesquite Street, Blanco TX 78606, with a viewing at 4:00 pm and memorial service at 5:00 pm.  Immediately following the service is a Celebration of Lura's Life at the American Legion Memorial Highway Post 352, 111 Blanco Avenue, Blanco, Texas 78606.

A motorcycle hearse will escort Lura from Blanco to her final resting place at Ft Sam Houston National Cemetery where committal services and military honors will be rendered on 23 May 2024 at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers/plants for the service, the family requests donations be made to the American Diabetes Association (https://diabetes.org/ways-to-give/memorial-gift) or the Dementia Society (https://www.dementiasociety.org/donate) in Lura's name.