Carolyn Pounders Capps

Carolyn Pounders Capps and her husband Robert Burney Capps were part of the caravan of oil men and their wives headed from Oklahoma in the late 1940’s to New Orleans, for the petroleum business’s opening salvo in response to the oil boom in Gulf Coast Louisiana. Carolyn and Bob were introduced by friends on the Oval at OU, where students hung out between and after classes. Each of them was closing in on earning their undergraduate degree, his in Geology and hers in Education. Carolyn had found deep and abiding sorority sisterhood in Kappa Alpha Theta during her freshman and sophomore years at Tulane’s Newcomb College. After their graduation, Kerr McGee hired Bob and transferred him to New Orleans, but not before they were married at Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club, where Carolyn had grown up swimming, playing tennis, and golfing.

Once in New Orleans, she and Bob found themselves among other congenial Oklahoman couples, most of whom they knew from OU, and all living here under the sponsorship of the world’s leading Oil and Gas conglomerates. They immediately settled into the heart of Old Metairie with their sons Bob and Tommy, whom they enrolled at St Martin’s Episcopal School, where each son remained until they graduated. The family enjoyed vacations “back home” to Oklahoma City, The Edgewater Gulf Hotel, Broadwater Beach Hotel, and at Pass Manchac, with Buddy and Margaret West at a camp they named Mosquito Palace.

When Carolyn and Bob’s nest emptied, she began volunteer work at Ochsner Foundation Hospital, where she soon became a salaried employee in hospital administration and remained for many years. She and Bob enjoyed cruising and travel to Mexico and Europe. Carolyn was a frequent visitor to New York City and was a guest at the opening nights for every Broadway show that her son stage managed. Later in life she traveled extensively to both North American and European destinations with her dear friend Alan Holtzman. She became a resident of Lambeth House, where she remained until her death.

Besides Kappa Alpha Theta, Carolyn was an active member in the St Martin’s Mothers’ Club, Metairie Country Club, The Petroleum Club, Entre Nous, Le Petit Salon, and the Orleans Club. She loved food and culture and spent her adult life in the right city for those pursuits.

Carolyn is survived by her sons, Robert Burney Capps, Jr of Dallas, and Thomas Sanford Capps of New Orleans; her daughter-in-law, Gail Ruthrauff Capps of Dallas; granddaughters, Paige Capps and Abby Capps of Dallas; and her sister, Marisue Pounders Smith of Lubbock.

In lieu of flowers, please direct contributions to Munholland Methodist Church, 1201 Metairie Rd, Metairie LA 70005 (504) 834-9910.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service at Munholland Methodist Church on Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 2 PM. Visitation will begin at 1:15 PM. After the services, Carolyn will be laid to rest in All Saints Mausoleum on the property of Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans.