Billie Louise Carrbello

BILLIE LOUISE CARRBELLO Billie Louise Carrbello, was born February 14, 1928 to Minnie and Clarence Patterson in Potash, Idaho. She was preceded in death by her parents, and is survived by her husband, Peter R. Carrbello and numerous cousins. Billie's parents had moved temporarily to Idaho in search of work, where her father found employment in the lumber mills. The family later returned to Pleasant View, Colorado. At the age of fourteen Billie attended university in Boston, Massachusetts where she studied music. Upon graduation she moved to Grand Junction, Colorado and in 1949 she met her husband Peter. They were married on June 25, 1950. On August 5, 1950 at an international convention of Jehovah's Witnesses in New York, NY Billie was baptized in symbol of her dedication to our creator, Jehovah. Billie had a love for teaching, and rather than accepting a teaching position in the schools of Grand Junction, Billie choose to join her husband in the full time teaching and preaching of Bible truths to others. They moved to Eugene, OR and while there they were requested to move to Grant's Pass, OR to assist congregations in the area. In 1953 they were invited to attend the twenty-third class of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead. After 5-1/2 months of intense study, they graduated in Toronto, Canada along with 114 others. This was the first class to graduate outside the United States. During the graduation ceremony the happy lot of missionaries was emphasized, for they are "taking the lead in showing men how to love." For this Billie and Peter became dearly loved by all who came to know them. After graduation they received a short training assignment covering the entire state of West Virginia. Several months later they were assigned along with thirteen others of their graduation class to Brazil in the city of San Palo. The assignment was challenging as they learned the Portuguese language and adjusted to their new surroundings. Over the next twenty-five years they received numerous assignments in various parts of the country, spending approximately four years in each assignment. In 1980 Billie and Peter returned to the United States to care for their aged and ailing parents. Because both had become so dearly loved by so many in Brazil, a large part of their heart remained there. They cared first for Peter's mother in California. It was during this time that they helped establish two Portuguese congregations. Later they moved to Florida to care for Billie's father, all during this time they continued their efforts to teach others about Jehovah. For sixty-four years Billie and Peter engaged fulltime in the ministry. Billie was happiest when with her husband Peter walking door-to-door talking to others about the God whom they had come to love and rely upon, Jehovah. Billie's heart was tied up with helping and teaching others, for this she will always be remembered by those who knew her, and most especially by her God, Jehovah. Revelation 14: 6-7. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. February 15, 2014 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses 1304 E. Empire.