Ima Dell Fitzgerald was born on May 6, 1909, in Eastland, Texas. She graduated from high school in Olden, Texas, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Daniel Baker College in Brownwood, Texas. She later earned a Master of Arts degree from Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, Texas.
Ima Dell married Mr. Robert Fitzgerald in 1930, and they moved to Haskell, Texas where she taught first grade for 27 years. In 1956, the Fitzgeralds moved to Arlington. She began teaching at Berry Elementary and after 6 months moved to the new Thornton Elementary where she stayed for 22 years.
When Ima Dell Fitzgerald retired, she had taught first graders for 49 years. (She would have completed 50 years had she not been ill with typhoid fever one year.) This Master Teacher did not stop teaching after retirement; she served as a substitute teacher for eight years following retirement.
In addition to teaching, she participated in Delta Kappa Gamma, and held a life membership in the Texas State Teachers Association and the Texas State PTA. She also taught Sunday school for 50 years.
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