Christa Ilse Harville

Christa I Harville, 87, passed away on February 21, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. Christa was born on August 13, 1936, in Hanau, Germany to parents Heinrich and Ilse Baumann.

Christa grew up in Hanau, Germany, graduating from high school and attending trade school there. While she was clerking at a local business, and while traveling to work one day, she met a man in the US Army stationed there, that found her irresistible.

Christa married that military man, Lee Harville, a couple of short years later in Hanau in 1955. They were happily married for 37 years, until Lee’s passing in 1992.

During their marriage Christa worked at Goodyear Tire and Rubber in Dallas, Texas until retiring from there at an early age. She then worked as a teller at Sunbelt Savings in Arlington before moving to employment in the registrar’s office at the University of Texas at Arlington until her retirement from there.

Christa enjoyed many hobbies, including macramé, leaded glass design, playing bridge and her favorite hobby of all, bowling. She loved exercise of all kinds.   Dancing, walking her beloved dogs, tai chi, and rollerblading with her daughter well into her seventies.

After retiring from UTA and being a widow, Christa began traveling; visiting places around the world such as the Great Wall of China, Vietnam, Europe as well as several Eastern Bloc countries and river cruises around the world. She loved to visit all cities and try all kinds of cuisines and was a member of many social groups, including Who’s Who of Dallas, Friends of Bacchus wine club, local gourmet dinner groups, and several card playing groups. Season tickets to Bass Hall in Fort Worth and Arlington Symphony in Arlington were a part of her cultural fun.  

Christa was preceded in death by both of her parents and the love of her life, her husband, Lee Harville.

Christa is survived by her son Lee Harville, Jr and wife Julie of Bedford, TX; daughter Sharon Harville and husband James Pierson of Arlington, TX; brothers Dirk Baumann and wife Anne of Colleyville, TX, Ralph Baumann and wife Isi of Delta, Ontario, Canada, and Harald Baumann of Rodenbach, Germany; grandchildren Sabrina Nabors of Euless, TX, Pennie Ewing of Hurst, TX and Jeremiah Ewing of Weatherford, TX; great grandson Hunter Nabors of Euless, TX, and her dog, Joey.

A funeral service will be held at Emerald Hills Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 500 Kennedale Sublett Rd., Kennedale, TX on March 6, 2024, at 11:00AM. A visitation will be held at the same location on March 5, 2024, from 6:00-8:00PM. Burial will follow the memorial service at Emerald Hills.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to the National Kidney Foundation, Alzheimer’ Foundation, or your local animal shelter.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to her caregivers, Tonya Mitchell, Emily Bailey, LaKena Mack, Serenity Place, and AlevCare Hospice- her nurse, Cindy and her assistant, Mahagane.  

John 16:22- “Therefore you now have sorrow: but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.”