Kathryn Gail Tinius

Dr. Kathryn Gail (Stepp) Tinius, 71, died peacefully in the early morning of July 13th in her home in Dallas, Texas, surrounded by her husband, Don Tinius, and her sisters, Rebecca and Rachel Stepp. She was a child of God, a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and a lifelong teacher with a heart for education and outreach.

Kathryn was born the daughter of John B and Pearl Therese (Riveland) Stepp on July 14th, 1949, in Greenville, SC. Because her father was a Baptist preacher, his mission work took her and the family to Sao Paulo, Brazil, for several of her formative years before moving to Mesquite, TX, in the mid 1960’s. Kathryn graduated from Mesquite High School in 1967, earned her B.A. from Baylor University and then earned her M.L.A. from SMU.

It was while volunteering at Big Brothers Big Sisters of America that Kathryn met the love of her life, Don. They married on June 21st, 1980, and she still managed to earn an Ed.D. from TWU before having two beautiful children, Austin and Adam Tinius.

Kathryn spent 35+ years in the field of education both in the classroom and in administration. She began teaching 5th grade with Mesquite ISD, while simultaneously teaching Reading Improvement at Eastfield Community College for 10 years. Later, she moved from the classroom to serve as a Central Officer Administrator coordinating a wide variety of programs, completing her career there as the Administration Officer for Planning Improvement in 2004.

Something as simple as retirement couldn’t slow Kathryn down. She began teaching numerous Research Methods classes as a professor at Amberton University in 2006, also serving as the Director of the Quality Enhancement Program for 5 years. In addition, she served on the Dean’s Board for the Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing and was a member of the Board of Advocates for the Baylor University College of Arts and Science, even launching the Dr. Kathryn Stepp Tinius Endowed Scholarship Fund in 2011 for Undergraduate Film and Digital Media majors in the College of Arts and Sciences. She was also given the 2016 Woman of Distinction Award by Baylor University.

Kathryn approached every aspect of her life with enthusiasm, humor and grace. As a descendent of early patriots, she was a member of the Daughters of The American Revolution. She was strong in her Christian faith, baptized by her father at an early age. She and her family were members of Wilshire Baptist Church for 30+ years, where she also taught children’s ministry in the Sunday school program, before Kathryn and Don moved to Prestonwood Baptist Church where they attended for the past several years. But her real mission field was with people. She had a strong heart for helping others. Whether it was through education, mentorship, outreach, job opportunities, or networking relationships, she had a selfless outlook that always put others above herself. She wanted nothing more than to make everyone’s life better, and for all of us who knew and loved Kathryn, our lives were indeed made better because she was a part of it.

Kathryn is preceded in death by her father John Stepp, brother, David Stepp, and nephew, Christopher Stepp. She is survived by her husband, Don Tinius, mother, Pearl Stepp, two sisters Rebecca and Rachel Stepp, two sons Austin (Caroline) and Adam (Katelyn), sister-in-law, Gail Stepp, niece, Emily Nelson, and three grandchildren, Charlotte Eleanor, Mara Kathryn due in November, and a third due in February 2022.

Funeral service will be held at the Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home, Dallas, TX, at 10:00AM on July 24th with D.Min. David Hardage officiating. Also speaking will be Dr. Lee Nordt, Janis Kovar, Gina Tirmenstein, with music from Bekah Lemonds.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Tinius Family Endowed Fund in Film and Digital Media for Baylor in LA (432MBUT) at Baylor University, University Advancement, One Bear Place #97050, Waco, TX 76798-7050.

Online gifts can be made at baylor.edu/giving/memorialfunds.