Carol Kinney Williams 1938-2020
Carol Kinney Williams, the most zestful life-lover that many
of her friends or family have ever known, passed in Dallas, Texas on November
1, 2020, a day short of her 82nd birthday.
"Carol" to husband Jimmy, her family and friends; or "Mama"
to Trey, Todd, and Leslie; or "Gigi" to her four grandsons: Tanner,
Ben, Jack and Joe; has died after a brief illness. A survivor of the
mid-century Texas polio epidemic, our beloved matriarch is now dancing with
Jimmy and running around Heaven seeing all the sights. The face she longed for
the most has always been that of her Savior, Jesus Christ, and we have no doubt
she rushed to His Arms at full speed with brand new legs.
Carol was born in Dallas, Texas on November 2, 1938 and grew up in the Houston
area the daughter of Harry A. Kinney, an insurance professional, and Betty Winn
Kinney, a homemaker. As a 6-year-old girl, in 1945, Carol was stricken with
polio, a horrible disease that afflicted many American children in the years
before the vaccine. At the Sister Kenny Institute in Minneapolis, Carol spent a
year fighting to survive while separated from her family. She emerged from this
ordeal with a permanent limp and an iron will to live her life with gusto.
After graduating Lamar High School in 1956, Carol, a talented pianist, attended
SMU-Dallas and received her Bachelor of English in 1961. At SMU, Carol met
Jimmy, a trained tenor, and from that moment on they accompanied each other.
Carol was instrumental, through her boundless gift of evangelism, in Jimmy’s
decision of faith. They served in full time ministry, first with Campus
Crusade, and then with Probe Ministries, for the rest of their lives. They were
married in 1963 and raised three children: Trey (1964), Todd (1968), and Leslie
(1970).
In the mid-1980s, Carol, along with other survivors of the polio era, began to
experience what came to be termed “post-polio syndrome” where sufferers had
some of the same symptoms previously thought conquered. Carol fought back,
hard, and founded the Dallas-Area Post Polio Association to foster community with
her fellow survivors. During this work, Carol completed her Master’s in
Counseling (LPC) at North Texas University in 1989 and practiced for several
years until retirement.
Our Gigi had a zest for life that lit up the room. She never met a travel brochure
she didn’t like. She meticulously researched the local cuisine to ensure she
didn’t miss a single sensation. She was passionate about sharing her faith. And
she loved her family with all her heart. She will be missed for her lusty
laugh, her sincere love of people, and her relish of life.
Carol is survived by son and daughter-in-law Trey and Aide Williams of Plano;
son and daughter-in-law Todd and Amy Williams of Dallas; daughter and
son-in-law Leslie and Matt Blum of Carrollton; grandchildren Tanner Williams,
Ben Williams, Jack Williams and Joe Williams; sisters Sue Patrick and Harriett
Linenberger of Houston; brother Alex Kinney of Houston; and extended family and
friends.
“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
'Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.'” Proverbs 31:28-29
After a private burial at Sparkman-Hillcrest Cemetery in Dallas, a celebration
of Carol's life will be held at 11 o'clock AM on November 14, 2020 at Grace
Bible Church, 11306 Inwood Rd, Dallas, TX 75229. Masks Required. Reception
immediately following.
The service will be livestreamed and recorded at the following link:
https://livestream.com/accounts/23169952/events/6961783
