Carol Almack Gideon

Carol Almack Gideon, 77, of McLean, Virginia, passed away on August 11, 2023. In her final hours she was surrounded by her family. She departed this side of eternity peacefully to join her dear late husband, Kenneth Wayne Gideon, in Heaven.

Carol was born in McAllen, Texas to Ruth and Jack Almack on January 1, 1946. As a child she grew up in a fun-loving family, with three siblings, Nancy, Jon, and Charles. They also lived in El Paso, TX and Framingham, MA before settling in Lubbock, TX. It was there in Lubbock that she met her true love, Kenny, in their senior year of high school. It wasn’t an immediate romance story. In fact, Carol was pretty sure Ken was pranking her about a first date. But that date was all it took before they each ditched the prom dates they already had and danced the night away. They spent four years apart during college while she attended Texas Tech and he attended Harvard. They married quickly thereafter on June 2, 1968.

Carol worked as an English teacher in New Haven, CT while Ken attended Yale Law School. She told many funny stories for years to come about her adventures as a young teacher in charge of a class of juvenile delinquents. She loved that class, and her passion for teaching the arts of reading and writing to all people never ceased during her lifetime. Whether teaching, tutoring, leading Junior Great Books clubs for her children, starting book groups with her friends, editing papers, teaching English to her caretakers in later life, or gifting books to everyone… she couldn’t help but share her love of language.

After law school, Carol and Ken settled in Houston, Texas where they welcomed three sons, Christopher, Kevin and Timothy. Ken’s career led them to Washington, DC, where they welcomed a fourth child, Emily. As a mother, Carol was devoted to her children and their various interests. She cherished family traditions and passing on family stories. As a wife, she was patient and supportive, and head over heels in love. In recent years, as a grandmother, she beamed with pride. She will be remembered for her deep love of family.

Though planted in Northern Virginia, Carol maintained her love of Texas. She served on the Board of the Texas Historical Foundation, helping to preserve historical sites and artifacts. Carol loved early American history. She often recounted her years as a young girl in El Paso, combing the desert sands looking for Native American artifacts.

Carol also had a passion for nature. Her garden was her blissful haven, and digging in the dirt fed her soul. She loved flowers and she loved inviting the birds and wildlife to her garden. Birds gave Carol much joy. In her final week and since her passing, friends and family have noted many special encounters with birds and bunnies, which surely are her message to all of us left behind to find comfort in the beauty and resilience of nature.

Carol is preceded in death by her husband, Ken Gideon; mother and father, Ruth Hutchings and Jack Almack, and niece, Lisa Gil-Forgosh. Carol is survived by three children and their partners: Chris Gideon (Kate Hughes), Kevin Gideon (Colleen Gideon), Tim Gideon (Valerie Rains), and Emily Yosmanovich (Bill Yosmanovich);four grandchildren: Kai Yosmanovich, Siena Yosmanovich, Andrew Gideon, and Maisie Yosmanovich; a sister-in-law, RaDonna Gideon; three siblings and their partners: Nancy Gil (Miguel Gil), Charles Almack (Patricia Almack), and Jon Almack (Sylvia Almack); and one niece and her partner, Eva Gil (Patrick Penney).

A funeral service will be held at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1205 Dolley Madison Boulevard, McLean, Virginia, 22101. A reception will follow at the church. A live stream of the service will be available at www.umtrinity.org for those who cannot attend in person. Following the service and reception, Carol and Ken will be inurned together during a private family ceremony at National Memorial Park in Falls Church, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites those who wish to make a donation in her honor to donate to:

Wildlife Rescue League

PO Box 704

Falls Church, VA 22040

www.wildliferescueleague.org

TAX ID: 52-1419298