Carol Hinton

Carol grew up in Dearborn, Michigan, graduating from Edsel Ford High School in 1956.

She met her husband, Champ Hinton three years later, in 1959. She was in the market for a used car, and the salesman at the dealership tried to take advantage of her. Champ stepped in and saved her from making a bad deal. They married 6 weeks later. After that, Carol never had to make another car payment!

The newlyweds made their first home in Wayne, Michigan. They welcome their daughter, Lisa, a year later.

During the early 1970’s, Champ, Carol, and Lisa moved to Fort Smith, which was Champ’s hometown, where Champ started Champ Hinton Pontiac. Carol plunged right into her new life in Fort Smith, taking an active role in the community together with Champ, making friends and supporting various civic and charitable organizations.

Carol made each of the homes she lived in comfortable and people friendly. She was a good cook, and she particularly excelled in cake making. She loved making birthday cakes for family members and friends. She always loved a party!

As anyone who knew her would testify, Carol also had a lifelong appreciation and love of women’s clothing. She was always “dressed to the nines,” as they would say. Glamour was her calling card. Some even teased her about being a “diva,” a word she didn’t attempt to refute. Her love of women’s clothing eventually led her to embark on a 25-year retail career, working at Marie’s, a women’s clothing shop in Fort Smith. Customers appreciated her warm and friendly manner and asked for her by name.

Carol had a deep love for the water and life on the lake. She and Champ had several homes on their beloved Lake Tenkiller in Oklahoma, where they invited friends and family to join them.

And of course, there was champagne to accompany every gathering. Good times with Carol always involved champagne. It was her signature drink. While champagne is normally reserved for celebrations for most people, every day of her life was a celebration for Carol. And she welcomed everyone to join her in celebrating each day.

Keeping friends and family close was a special talent of Carol’s. Among her and Champ’s dear friends were Karen and Charlie, Joella and Richard, Petra and Frank, and the late George and Bettye.

Fort he past six years, Carol has resided at Brookfield Assisted Living in Fort Smith. Just as she made every place she lived “home,” Carol loved Brookfield and its residents.

Carol was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Champ; her parents, Margaret and Shelby; her brother Jerry; and her grandson Robert Champ Williams.

She is survived by her daughter Lisa (Hinton) Williams of Fayetteville; her granddaughter Whitney; her great-grandchildren, Easton, Evie, Johnnie, and Loryn; her “bonus” grandchildren, Jordan and Ryla, and Oliver; and her brother Jeff of Ann Arbor, Michigan; and an assortment of cousins.

To know Carol Ann Hinton was to love her. She was a bright light in our lives. She was honest, kind, generous, smart, funny, loyal, and loving. She will be deeply missed, but she has left everyone who knew her with wonderful memories.

Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Edwards Funeral Home.

Visitation will be Monday, February 2, 2026, from 4 – 6 PM at Edwards Funeral Home.

Burial of ashes at Forest Park Cemetery will be at a later date.

Online condolences may be sent to, www.edwardsfuneralhome.com