Irma Swayze Wilkinson Mooney

Irma Swayze Wilkinson Mooney was born March 10, 1911, in Jonesville, LA to Martha Ann “Minnie” Swayze Wilkinson and Robert Adam Wilkinson. Mrs. Mooney was a descendant of the original 1772 Jersey Settlers of Kingston, MS. She married JW Gaston Mooney November 11, 1939, in Dallas, TX. She died on April 30, 2005 in Austin TX, at the age of 94. She was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, her parents and her sister, Vera Wilkinson Allen. In 1929, she was in the first graduating class of Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, TX. Soon after, she joined the Ruth Laird Dancers and later danced with the Texas Rockets performing in cities across the country. During the 1930’s, she designed costumes for the early motion picture industry in Hollywood, CA. Returning to Dallas, she designed and produced costumes for local ballet companies, dance studios and school drill teams. In Dallas, Mrs. Mooney was an active member of the Bookmark Review Club, the Dallas Women’s Forum, the Eastern Star, and was a twenty-two year member of the PTA. She taught Sunday school classes at First United Methodist Church for many years. In retirement, Mrs. Mooney continued her artistic interests through her hobbies, including oil and china painting, needlepoint, ceramics, and sewing for her grandchildren. She moved to Austin in 1984 and became active with the Senior Activity Center and she sold her crafts at the Old Bakery & Emporium and the Junior Forum’s annual “Christmas at Caswell House.” In 1994, she was the model for the Paramount Theater’s 78th anniversary brochure. She continued country line dancing twice a week until she was 90 years old. She lived independently in her own home until 2004. She is survived by her three daughters and their families: Maureen Mooney Jenkins of Austin, TX and her son John Holmes Jenkins, IV of Greenville, SC; Charlotte Mooney Helberg, of Austin, TX, her daughters Gayle Elizabeth Helberg of San Antonio, TX, and Martha Helberg Williams, son-in-law Walter Williams and their daughters Vivian Elizabeth and Charlotte Ann of Austin, TX; and Patricia Mooney Marlowe, her husband W. Rudd Marlowe of San Antonio, TX and Hamilton Parish, Bermuda, their son Nicholas Rudd Marlowe of Dallas, TX, and their daughter Meghan Marlowe Berg and son-in-law Edward Berg of Dallas, TX. A graveside service will be held at Restland Cemetery, 13005 Greenville Ave., in Dallas, TX, Thursday, May 5, 2005, at 4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army. Memorials and guestbook available online at www.wcfish.com