Lillian Rabb

WINSTON-SALEM - Lillian Brewer Rabb, 93, passed away Sunday, December 4, 2011 at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home. She was born October 20, 1918 in Winston-Salem, the daughter of the late Fred Madison Brewer and Etta Estelle Butner Brewer. She was preceded in death by her first husband, William J. Ballenger and her second husband, Robert Rabb. Also preceding her in death were her brothers, Grady Brewer, Frank Brewer, Fred Brewer, and Tommy Brewer; sisters, Elizabeth White, Zelmo Reid, Mary Anna Wooten, Ruth Beck, and Fleeta Brewer; sons-in-law, Herbert Poole, Jerry Howell, and Pete Pihos; and daughter-in-law, Lois Ballenger. Mrs. Rabb is survived by her five children, Anthony Ballenger, Donna Pihos-Howell, Bill Ballenger (Kitti), Stan Ballenger (Brenda), and Jack Ballenger; grandchildren, Luke Poole, Wesley Poole (Alexis), Melissa Pihos, Jay Ballenger (Jen), Page Ballenger (Nicole), Jason Ballenger (Jennifer), and Lance McPeak; and great-grandchildren, Daisy Ballenger and Macy McPeak; a brother, Jimmy Brewer (Delma), and several loving nieces and nephews. Mrs. Rabb was of Moravian heritage (the Butners and Heges of Bethabara), with ancestors arriving in 1755 with the second group (but first group of married couples) to settle Bethabara. She graduated from Clemmons High School, finishing in 11 years after skipping a year. She married and moved to Chapel Hill where she lived for 50 years. She was a homemaker for many years, raising her 5 children. She attended UNC-CH and when her children were older, went to work as manager of the Scientific Store Room which supplied UNC Memorial Hospital and the Physics and Chemistry departments. She worked 35 years, retiring at age 74. She was a member of the University Baptist Church for many years. Upon retiring, she moved to Winston-Salem where she was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church, the church of her parents. Mrs. Rabb had many interests. She had an extensive library of gardening, nutrition, health, and herbal cures. She loved to garden and for many years grew a summer vegetable garden on a lot she owned in Winston-Salem. She always grew beautiful flowers and was a long-time member of the NC Botanical Gardens. She enjoyed entering and winning cooking contest, among them the Pillsbury Bake-Off where she was a finalist in New York in 1954. She was an avid Tar Heel fan and seldom missed football or basketball games. She was very interested in the political scene and never missed a chance to vote. She and a sister enjoyed traveling to many places and taking many cruises. A funeral service will be held at 12:00 noon on Thursday, December 8, 2011 at Bethel United Methodist Church with the Rev. David Smith officiating. The family will receive friends at 11:00 prior to the funeral. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family would like to give a special thanks to Lydia Prysock for her loving assistance to Mrs. Rabb and for her loving concern for the family. We also want to thanks friends and family for the loving support shown to us at this difficult time. Also, we will always remember the compassionate care and support of those who assisted us in the final days and hours at the Hospice Home. Thank you. Memorial contributions may be made to Bethel United Methodist Church, 2350 Bethel Church Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27103. Published in Winston-Salem Journal on December 6, 2011