Obituary of Madeline E. Birdwell
Madeline Elise Birdwell was born August 31, 1921 at home in Overton. She was the second child, and only girl, of G.P. and Bertie Branch Birdwell.
Growing up with 3 brothers, to whom she was very devoted, she told many stories of her brothers teasing her. One of their particular favorite ways to tease her was to fashion hang man nooses, and hang all her dolls in her bedroom. Madeline was always the “Princess” of the family, though, had many happy memories of her childhood.
Madeline was very musical, trained in piano, violin, voice and ballet dancing.. She had a lovely lyrical soprano voice.
She graduated from John Tyler high school in Tyler, then attended Hockaday School in Dallas. She was always a proud Hockaday graduate, and loved reading the school magazine every time it came.
She attended Julliard School in New York. This was her most exciting time in her long life. Besides attending school, she also was in the chorus of the New York Opera Company. She was there right before, and during World War II. Coming from a small town in Texas, New York was just one big adventure! She made several dear friends during her years in New York, and always treasured her time there.
Madeline returned to Tyler, Texas upon the death of her father in 1945. She took care of her Mother for the rest of her life, which ended in 1954. She soloed frequently with various choral groups and churches in Tyler, and later after moving to Sacramento, California she continued her solo career by performing with the Sacramento Orchestra, among other organizations
Her three brothers, (James, Eugene Fields and George) and Madeline started the Birdwell Lumber Company in Sacramento California. At this time she also began accepting private piano and violin students. She taught private lessons for many years, including to her nieces and nephews. How well they remembered Aunt Madeline “telling” on them to their parents if she felt they were not practicing enough!
While living in Sacramento, Madeline also completed a Bachelors and Masters in English from Sacramento State University. After the family sold the Lumber Company, she embarked upon a career as an elementary teacher. She taught first at a Catholic school, and later was employed by the school district in Sacramento. She retired from that after many years of helping to educate students, as well as introducing them to music of many kinds.
Madeline was especially fond of the opera, and was a season ticket holder for several years with the San Francisco opera company. In addition she was fond of musicals, and attended many Broadway shows as they toured California.
Madeline also had a great fondness for travel. She spoke both French and Italian, and went to Europe many times. One of her greatest adventures was going to Russia, while it was still a Communist country. She loved touring St Petersburg especially, and often spoke of visiting the Hermitage. She also took several cruises, and enjoyed Alaska very much.
Madeline was especially devoted to her three brothers her entire life. Despite their childhood of teasing her, she loved them dearly, and they in turn were always willing to come help her with anything. Her brothers Jim and Fields were especially “handy” around the house, and could be counted on to not only fix anything that needed to be fixed, but also made for her a lovely rose garden with gazebo in her back yard. She loved flowers, especially roses, and was proud of her gorgeous flower garden. Her brother George was her constant travel partner, and then enjoyed every summer going somewhere.
Madeline is preceded in death by her parents, G.P. and Bertie Birdwell, her brothers Jim, Eugene Fields and George, and her nephew David. She is survived by her nephew Jim, of Los Angeles California, her niece Janis Lake of Los Angeles, her nephew Jeff Birdwell of Atherton, California, and her niece Suzanne Birdwell, of Wills Point Texas.
