Nona Pearl Whitworth

Nona Pearl Lee Whitworth, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend passed away in Waco, Texas on July 9, 2025. She was 93 years old.

Visitation for Nona will be held at Grace Gardens Funeral Home on July 17, 2025 between 5-7 pm. Funeral service will be Friday July 18, 2025 at Noon. Rick Bowles former youth minister at Calvary will officiate.

Nona was born in Snyder, Texas on May 18, 1932, to parents William Eugene Lee and Eva Faye Hudson.

She is survived by her daughters, Pam Whitworth and Giovanna Nanny, son-in-law Larry Nanny, two grandchildren, Robert Nanny and Charisse Szanto, her husband Andrew Szanto and great-grandchildren, Delaney and Jaden, all of Waco, Texas. She also leaves behind her sister, Oma Huckleberry of Salem, Indiana, and Richard Mattix of Houston, Texas, along with a host of nieces and nephews and their children.

Nona had three sisters, Helen Plant of Houston, Texas, Nell Lee of Austin, Texas, and Oma Huckleberry of Salem, Indiana, and two brothers, Donald Lee of Harlingen, Texas, and Richard Mattix of Houston, Texas. Nona shared a very special bond with all of her siblings, especially the “SISTA’S”, as they were named, spending as much time as they could together and countless hours on the telephone. Teletherapy between them was routine.

Desmond Tutu’s quote “ You don’t choose your family, they are God’s gift to you, as you are to them” said it well for Nonas family.

Nona grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, and met R.L. in Robstown, Texas, where R.L. was preaching a revival. She once admitted she and her friend went to the revival because they didn’t have money to go to the movie.

They were married and began their first pastorate in McGregor, Texas.

RL & Nona came to Waco on Mother's Day 1959 to pastor Calvary Assembly of God, which had about 50 members at the time.

When the growing congregation outgrew the building at 20th & Dutton, land was purchased in Robinson, Texas. R.L. and Nona proudly showed off their first grandchild, Charisse, in the first service held in the new building in 1974.

R.L. and Nona retired in 1993, with over 2,400 people in attendance after pastoring Calvary for 34 years. Even they could not have dreamed in 1959 what was in store for them and the little rock church on the corner of 20th & Dutton. At their retirement service, he surprised Nona with a love song he wrote, "I'll Always Love You," sung to her for the first time.

The song says “When our love story has been told and we are growing old, I will take your hand in mine and dream of friends and days gone by. And Darling if I go before, I’ll wait at heaven’s door and at our rendezvous, I’ll renew my vows to you.”

So, Nona would like all of her family, & friends to know, her work here is done. She has an appointment from which she will not return. It comes with a huge bonus, a rendezvous with R.L. and joining Helen & Nell in a chorus of “You are My Sunshine”,

R.L. & Nona had a very special relationship, partnership and marriage. They loved their journey in life, their family and Calvary Family.

“It was a Wonderful Life, rich in family bonds and lifetime friendships. Thank you, Calvary friends and family for being part of all the BIG days in their life and a part of the Whitworth family.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Nona Whitworth can be made to Pleasant Hills Children home, Fairfield, Tx.

https://www.pleasanthillschildrenshome.org/donate.html

Enjoy some fun memories https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOiX1gePNzOJtX4miuLtGfA