Obituary of Pearl Barbour Ditmore

Pearl Barbour Ditmore October 16, 1914 - May 13, 2012 Graveside services for Pearl Ditmore, 97, of Lovington, NM will be held on Monday, May 21, 2012 at 10:30 am at Tonkawa IOOF Cemetery in Tonkawa, Oklahoma. Services are under the direction of Kirby-Smith-Rogers Funeral Home of Lovington. Pearl was born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma to Clyde and Edna (Foley) Barbour on October 16, 1914 and passed away on May 13, 2012 at Good Samaritan Center in Lovington, NM. She was raised by her German grandmother, who taught her to cook as early as school age. Pearl graduated from high school at age 15 ½ and attended business college for six months in Tulsa. She first became associated with the restaurant business at age 17. She was so small and young looking that people wouldn’t hire her so she and her grandmother bought an eight-stool hamburger joint in Gladewater, Texas. Since Pearl’s mother had been in the restaurant business when Pearl was very small, it became second nature with Pearl. Pearl’s restaurant operation followed the oil booms in East and West Texas, Southern Illinois and Oklahoma. She never stayed more than three years in one place before settling in Lovington, NM; however, the story was always the same. Anyone who needed a handout came to Pearl. The move to Lovington occurred in 1950 and two years later, she married Don Dorrell Ditmore on July 22, 1952 in Carlsbad, NM. He preceded her in death on September 15, 2002. She operated a café at 19 West Central in Lovington from 1950-1952. Then for three years she fed 25 men in her home. Pearl’s Boarding House was established in 1955. For three years, Pearl fed 35 boarders until 1958 when she decided to knock out the rooms in back and make a Health Studio. In 1960 the Civic Club members approached Pearl for a meeting place. Since the studio was closed, this area was converted into a large dining room and she began to cook for the public. Pearl operated a family style restaurant where there were no waitresses. Everyone helped himself, even to seconds, for a set price (with no tips) and picked up his own dishes. Don, Pearl, and a part-time helper in the kitchen cooked breakfast and a buffet lunch, made their own bread, jellies and preserves, fed civic and church organizations regularly, served a tremendous volume of holiday parties, and gave home baked cakes and home canned pickles to hundreds of civic club members and others. There was never a sign in front of Pearl’s. Newcomers were automatically directed there by satisfied customers. Engineers, salesmen and field supervisors that frequently worked in the Lovington area or salesmen that regularly called on Lovington businessmen, asked to eat at Pearl’s. She personally cared for one elderly person six years and another for five years, even to the point of keeping separate houses for them, then eventually when it became too strenuous to maintain separate residences and work, moved into one house with them in order to provide night and day care. These two elderly people had no relatives and no one really cared but Pearl! Many members of the Golden age Club could say, “Pearl bought my groceries, Pearl ran my errands, Pearl drove me places I desired to go.” She was known to loan silverware and dishes to competitors who wished to cater but lacked the facilities. Children who cried when taken to a nursery school were content to spend the day at Pearl’s. Travelers only passing through town were directed to Pearl’s for food, as well as lodging. Churches and civic organizations called on her for food for the needy, stating a fund was available, but she never accepted compensation. She secured rooms and often paid the bill herself. Alcoholics were given jobs at the boarding house with the hope they would make a change. Down-and-outers were given assistance with food and shelter until they could regain funds. Wives of prisoners who had no place to go were helped. Funds were not available at the jail for this, but Pearl came through. Anyone, no matter their condition, was welcomed at Pearl’s door. She had so many animals left there, it could have been called Pearl’s menagerie. During Pearl’s last several years, she was cared for by Donnita Like and Ella Wallace before moving to the nursing home. She was a wonderful, tough and talented lady and will be sorely missed by all of her friends. During Pearl’s 62 years in Lovington, she was a friend to the friendless, a mother to the neglected, a baby sitter to friend’s children, an inspiration to the less fortunate, and a strong cornerstone of the community. We salute Pearl Barbour Ditmore for her long tenure of unselfish service to our community. Pearl, you have earned your crown of jewels in Heaven….