Mrs. Isabell Lydia Ritnour Protheroe went home peacefully to the Lord, Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Irmo, South Carolina at the wonderful age of 981/2.
Isabell (Izzy), affectionately called Granny, is survived by her five daughters; Sylvia Setzer, Charlotte, NC; Cynthia Hildebrand, Pendleton, OR; Catherine Francetti, Kate (Shirley) Brighton, Judy Folk and two sons, David Protheroe, Jr. and Greg Protheroe all from the Midlands, SC. As well as 11 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, David Stanley Protheroe, and infant daughter, Cindy Louise Protheroe.
Isabell was born on November 2, 1922, at her childhood home on Linton Ave., Natchez, Mississippi. She graduated in 1941 from Natchez High School where she, all of 5’4” and 98 pounds, lead 175 superior rated marching band members down the streets of Jackson, Miss. She worked as a telephone operator before marrying David Stanley Protheroe on June 19, 1942 at St. Mary’s Basillica, Natchez.
Besides being a warm and humorous person she was a veracious Scrabble player! As she raised her 7 children she honed her talents of sewing beautiful and fashionable clothes. This lead to a seamstress career after husband David retired to Ballentine, SC in 1977 where they opened David’s Fix-It Shop and IZZY’s Alteration on Dutch Fork Road. After Dave’s passing, Granny worked 12 years for Textile Restoration in Chapin.
A Memorial Celebration of Life at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church at 195 Amicks Ferry Road, Chapin, SC, 29036, is scheduled for Saturday, May 15, beginning with a welcome at 1pm with a reception following. Please consider in lieu of flowers a memorial to Granny’s favorite charity, St. Jude’s Hospital for Children.
