On Sunday, November 4, 2012, Heaven welcomed Virginia Ruth Craver Dinsmore with her trademark smile. While Jenny left us entirely too soon, and entirely too young (71), she was a testament to the old adage, “It’s not how long you live, it’s how well you live,” and so she did. Jenny spent her life more concerned about the welfare of others than herself. She made sure her loved ones, friends and the newest people she met were doing well. Even at the end of her struggles, she always wanted to know if those she was with were having a good day and if they needed anything.
Jenny was born and raised in Texarkana and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with degrees in English, Classics and Secondary Education. She was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority. Jenny was also an entrepreneur, starting two Austin companies: the first touring company in town, Yellow Rose Tours, which eventually became Gray Line Tours, and JB Properties, where she had a successful career as a real estate broker. Later in her life, she taught children and adult Sunday School classes and was a Bible Study Fellowship children’s leader. She also tutored prisoners, helping them to get their GED. She truly enjoyed her work in many interesting jobs and all the people she met.
Her true love was her family and especially her children. Her daughter Stacy helped care for Jenny when she first became ill. Losing Stacy, just two years ago, dealt Jenny a very tough blow. Her son David is so lucky to have had her in his life. She introduced him to one of his passions when she signed him up for a golf lesson at Texarkana Country Club with Don Murphy. Jenny also played golf for many years, first at Texarkana Country Club, where she and Bill lived for 10 years, then later, at Balcones Country Club in Austin.
She is preceded in death by her daughter, Stacy Lynn Bales, her husband, Bill Dinsmore, and her parents, Howard and Ruth Craver.
She is survived by her son, David Lawrence Bales of Austin; sister and brother-in-law, Jane and Garland Kennon of Houston; brother, William Craver of New York; stepchildren, Cherise Bell, Denise Jenkins, Denny Dinsmore and their families; niece, Diane Kennon Shrull and family of Richardson; and nephew, Stephen Kennon and family of Austin.
A memorial celebration of Jenny’s life will be held Friday, November 9, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at Bethany United Methodist Church, 10010 Anderson Mill Road in Austin, TX 78750, with a reception to follow at Balcones Country Club, 8600 Balcones Club Drive, Austin, TX 78750.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Alzheimer’s Association, Capital of Texas Chapter, 3429 Executive Center Drive, #100, Austin, TX 78731, or, Texans for Stem Cell Research at www.txstemcell.org.
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