Christine Braswell Dingman

Christine Braswell Dingman died peacefully on August 10th 2016 surrounded by her beloved children. Born on July 20th 1927 to Earsell and Troy Braswell, Christine grew up in Shreveport Louisiana where her parents taught her the values of thrift and hard work. She also learned to be an excellent seamstress and homemaker, and developed a love for music.

She excelled at playing the marimba, performing in her High School band, and later at university. Upon graduating High School in 1944, she attended Texas Christian University to study Nursing. She also found time to be become Miss Tri-State beauty queen.

At the end of the war, she met her future husband Howard Dingman. Their love blossomed, overcoming the challenge of distance as Howard's work took him far away from Shreveport to many parts of the US and Canada. Following her heart, Christine boarded a train for Wyoming in 1948 to marry Howard. On her arrival late in the evening, Howard and Christine woke the judge and insisted he marry them right away.

Together, they moved around the country with Howard's job, while starting and growing their family. In the first six years of their marriage, they moved twenty-four times. With joy and imagination, she made the best of often Spartan circumstances, improvising to make a warm and welcoming home in the many small towns around the country and Canada in which they lived. They eventually settled in Houston in 1965.

Christine's greatest joys came from supporting her husband and from raising their four daughters. She was a devoted wife and mother, deeply embracing her many responsibilities. No chore was a burden as she sewed clothes and costumes for her four daughters, led Girl Scout events, volunteered in a wide range of their activities, and stayed active in the Society of Exploration Geologists organization. She also passed on her love of sewing and music to her children. In between these commitments, she enjoyed tennis, knitting and needlepoint.

Grandchildren and great grandchildren brought another level of happiness to her as she embraced them all as a part of her extended family. She was active in the lives of each, attending a multitude of sporting, drama and musical events to witness and share the delight of seeing them grow and blossom. After his retirement, Howard and Christine also travelled extensively.

Christine is remembered as a poised and charming lady, always welcoming and completely devoted to her family. Although her later years were restricted by Alzheimer’s, her inner warmth always shone through. She has joined her husband, who preceded her in death by a few weeks. They are now joyfully and eternally united.