Carolyn Alice Paul Pitney

Carolyn Alice was the daughter of Charles J. and Gladys A. Paul and was raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work. In 1950 she married Bradley R. Pitney and began her social work career in Minneapolis for a local charitable organization. In 1952 Carolyn joined the American Red Cross in Lawton, Oklahoma, and later at Sandia Base Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico, helping injured returning Korean Veterans while Brad was in Korea. In 1954 Carolyn and Brad moved to Golden Colorado where she worked at the Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver while Brad attended Colorado School of Mines. In 1956 she left Red Cross and joined the Jefferson County Family Aid Program working out of Golden. After graduating from Mines in 1957, they moved to several Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas towns as Brad worked work in the geophysical end of the oil business, finally settling in Houston in 1959. Carolyn immediately resumed her career in social work, this time with Catholic Charities through which, and with the beneficence of Father Lee, they were able, starting in 1960 then in 1962, to adopt two wonderful children, Michelle Lee and Scott Christopher. Carolyn was a Teacher’s Aid in the Spring Branch school system from 1968 for seven years. In 1975 she returned to social work joining the Texas State Welfare Program and retired as a supervisor in 1990.

Carolyn loved working with people, helping people, teaching children in school, and teaching catechism in the church. She enjoyed all her friends in her garden club, bridge clubs and visiting with neighbors and old high school friends in Minneapolis. Carolyn loved travel, visiting the western mountain states of the U.S., the maritime provinces of Canada, and New England. She especially enjoyed traveling to Paris and four trips to England. Carolyn loved people, travel, and life.

Carolyn is survived by her husband Bradley; daughter and son-in-law, Michelle and Joe McGinnis, and their children, Megan, Kelly, Kevin and David; and her son and daughter-in-law Scott and Dana Pitney, and their children, Tyler, Zach, and Gage.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 29, 2010, at St. Jerome Catholic Church, 8825 Kempwood, Houston, 77080 with Reverend Michael Van Cleve celebrant. Lunch will be served following the service from 11:30-1:00p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Catholic Charities, 2900 Louisiana Houston, TX 77006, (713) 526-4611.