Carolyn Wolff Walker

Carolyn Wolff Walker passed away on March 7, 2017. Born as Carolyn Francis Wolff in Houston, Texas on November 5, 1936 to Elsie F. Wolff and Joseph F. Wolff. ln 1950 her family moved to Corpus Christi, Texas where she graduated from W. B. Ray High School. She then attended Sophie Newcomb Collage in New Orleans, LA, where she majored in Art. In 1956 she met her future husband, Thomas Charles Walker, who was in Corpus Christi training as a Navy Pilot, on a blind date. In February 1957 she was honored to be chosen as the Queen of the 1957 Corpus Christi Mardi Gras Ball. Carolyn and Tom were married on April 13, 1957. After his military service, the couple settled in Dallas, Texas where she spent the remainder of her very productive years.

Carolyn was a very talented and creative person and she particularly enjoyed needlepoint, French hand sewing and embroidery. She was a national teacher for the Embroiderer's Guild of America and coauthored "The Embroidery of Madeira", the first English language book about the embroidery techniques on the lsland of Madeira, source of much of the world's best embroidery. In order to do the research for the book, she learned to speak Portuguese and spent considerable time in Madeira learning skilled techniques from native workers.

In the early 1980's Carolyn was diagnosed with breast cancer and treated extensively at the Breast Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Her treatment was successful but she observed a need for a support group of former patients to help new patients deal with the diagnoses by talking to those who had experienced and survived the disease. She then formed "Between Us", a breast cancer support group made up of survivors of the disease, at the Breast Center at UTSW. This organization continues functioning today providing valuable personal counselling and support to over 500 new breast cancer patients annually.

In memory of Carolyn you may send donations to: UTSW Breast Center.

Carolyn is survived by her husband of 59 years, her son, Joseph F. Walker, his wife Natasha Walker, grandchildren, Mathew, Sophie, William and Grace, as well as her sister, Sheryl Merville. She was preceded in death by her son, Thomas Charles "Chuck" Walker, Jr. and her parents. The family wishes to express its deep gratitude for the wonderful care Carolyn received by all the staff at Monticello West, the Silverado Hospice team, and Maria during her illness. A Memorial Service will be held at Sparkman-Hillcrest Cemetery at 10 AM, Tuesday, March 21st, followed by a reception.