John Belton "Dutch" Isbell

John Belton Isbell, known to most as “Dutch”, passed away on Monday, July 3, 2017 at his home in Denton at the age of 94.  The son of T. E. and Minnie (Smulcer) Isbell, he was born on December 6, 1922 in Sanger, Texas.

Dutch was a graduate of Sanger High School in the Class of 1939.  He honorably served his country from July 17, 1944 to April 17, 1946 as a rifleman in the United States Army, Company A 311th Infantry, during World War II.  He earned three Bronze Service Stars and three Purple Heart medals. He fought in three battles, The Battle of the Bulge, Ardennes Forest (Rhineland) and Central Europe.  He was a lifetime member of the VFW and the American Legion.

Dutch was a dairyman.  He was the owner of D. I. P. Dairy in Sanger and was instrumental in assisting many dairymen start their own dairies.  He was a founding member of the American Milk Producers Association and was in the Top 10 dairies on the county, state, and national levels for over 25 years.  In addition to the dairy, Dutch owned a pecan orchard in Sanger.  At the time that he sold his operation, he was producing over 18,000 pounds of pecans per year.

On June 19, 1976, he married Kay Ann Ellis in Denton.  After he sold his dairy and pecan orchard, they moved to Denton.  Dutch still enjoyed his pecans and had a couple of pecan trees at his home in Denton. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Madge Hall Isbell, and four siblings which included one sister and three brothers.  He is survived by his wife Kay of Denton, a son, John Thomas “Pete” Isbell and wife Debra of Denton, daughters Sue Ellen (Isbell) Hess and husband Conrad of New Jersey, Stella Ann Spradley and husband Danny of Anton, TX, and Reba Jean Swink and husband Donnie of Crosbyton, TX, a nephew Scott Thames, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A service will be held under the Pavilion at the Sanger Cemetery at 10:30 on Thursday, July 6, 2017.  Jerald Garner will officiate the service.  Serving as pallbearers will be John David Simmons, Thomas Ray Isbell, Ross Allan Cargile, Bill Bounds and Jason Ulman.  Honorary Pallbearers will be Guinn Baker and Dennis Smith.

The family would like to say a special thank you to First Choice Home Health and Ann’s Haven VNA for the extraordinary care they gave to Dutch.  In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made in honor of Dutch to First Choice Home Health Care, Ann’s Haven VNA or St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital.