OBITUARY   Elnor Pullara nee Kuchenbacker was born in Henrietta, Texas on May 17, 1921 to an American-born German father, son of a Baptist minister, and the youngest daughter of a wealthy North Texas rancher and oil man. Her father, Walter Kuchenbacker, was a wiry, good looking athlete who played industrial-league baseball for several years after he married her mother, Sadie Frey. From Henrietta, Texas, Sadie was a superb seamstress who sewed all of Elnor's beautiful dance costumes. Starting dance lessons in her early teens, Elnor lied about her age and began dancing professionally at age 15, later entertaining troops at USO events. She continued dancing professionally, mainly on weekends, until age 30, helping her parents make it through the hard times of the Great Depression. Elnor had her own automobile while attending Woodrow Wilson High School, and after she graduated she earned more on weekends than her policeman husband, John M. Hudson, earned in a month. An intelligent young lady, she went on to attend SMU's night school for two years. In the early 1940's Elnor performed with singer and movie star, Marie McDonald. She was also briefly the dance partner of a young Donald O'Connor, who later became famous for his roles in the series "Francis the Talking Mule" and as Gene Kelly's sidekick in "Singing in the Rain." Unlike Marie and Donald, Elnor turned down a movie contract because she "didn't like the lifestyle." In her 30's, Elnor had her own dance studio and frequently taught tumbling and ballroom dancing classes at the YWCA. During this time she moved from her home in the University Park area to a new home in the beautiful new Casa Linda area, where many of her friends resided. Elnor became a widow in 1954. She eventually remarried a jolly Italian from Florida named Jimmy Pullara. Elnor was the family matriarch during the '70s and '80s, hosting all important holidays, celebrations and parties in her typical flamboyant style. No one forgot her parties. In the later 80's Elnor became increasingly involved in caring for her aging parents, husband and other relatives. In a span of 2 years she lost her mother, father, her aunt and then her husband. After a brief mourning period she found new joy in life, going frequently to Six Flags Over Texas with her son, John and his family. She flew frequently to Washington, D.C., to visit her daughter, Dian and family. She found old high school friends and began meeting with them regularly for "coffee" chats. Elnor was very pleased when her daughter, Denise, moved in with her just before her husband, Jimmy, died. She continued to live in the same home in good health for 55 years. In 2008 a small stroke took her sense of balance and her short term memory. She lived in a well-run assisted living facility for over two years until she broke her hip in December 2010. While the surgery went well she just didn't bounce back. Elnor died on the 4th of July. She is survived by her three children, her six grandchildren and her five great-grandchildren. Submitted by Gina L. May

Notes:

• The Obituary sight has her Birthday wrong, she was born May 17^th 1921 not on the first.