Ann Carolyn Franks Winkelmann

1924 - 2014

DALLAS Ann Carolyn Franks Winkelmann died peacefully at home in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday, June 18, 2014, with her girls around her after exuberantly living her life always with a laugh and a positive attitude. She was definitely the bubbles in our champagne. Ann is survived by her devoted daughters, Carol Ann Winkelmann of Dallas and Deborah Jean Soja and her husband, William Walter Soja, of Liberty Hill, Texas; her grandchildren, Crystal Ann Soja and her husband, Peter Z. Wang, and Jason William Soja of Austin, Texas; and her great-grandchildren, Maxwell Arthur Wang and Cora Lillian Wang. Each of whom she loved very much and who loved her dearly. Ann was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Eugene (Gene) Winkelmann, whom she adored; her father, Arthur Clay Franks; her stepfather, Jesse Morris McMillan; and her mother, Irene Armstrong McMillan. Ann was born in Dallas on Dec. 17, 1924, and attended Rosemont Elementary and graduated from Sunset High School in Dallas. She attended Southern Methodist University and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. After graduation, she went to Pennsylvania where she combined psychology at Western States Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (a Pittsburgh research hospital) with post graduate study at the University at Pittsburgh. She was also a proficient pianist having taken lessons at a young age and as a result of her prowess received a baby grand piano from her parents. She worked as a psychologist in San Angelo, Texas, and was a member, deacon and Sunday school teacher at St. Mark Presbyterian Church in San Angelo, member and officer of the San Angelo Junior League and member and president of the Tom Green Eight County Medical Society Auxiliary. She was an enthusiastic patroness of the arts, regularly attending performances of the San Angelo Symphony, the Austin Symphony Orchestra, the Irving Lyric Stage, Dallas Theatre Center and the Dallas Wind Symphony. She loved listening to many types of music including rock and roll. Ann attended Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church and loved Dr. Blair Monie's sermons and the music ministry. Ann and Gene made the most of their retirement years, enthusiastically participating in activities at the Island on Lake Travis, Lago Vista, Texas, Sun City, Georgetown, Texas, and Edgemere Retirement Community, Dallas, where they made many wonderful friends. Being a life long learner, she loved travel particularly to foreign countries, totally enjoyed participating in LAMP (Learning Activities for Mature Persons) on the UT Austin campus and was an avid reader and bridge player. Ann loved to garden and watch UT Longhorns football games. She enjoyed following businesses and the stock markets reading the Wall Street Journal and watching CNBC. Ann was a connoisseur of Blue Bell ice cream. Ann's daughters wish to express their appreciation to those who assisted them in Ann's care in the last months of her life: Alice, Anne, Felisa, Grace, Helen, Jan, Johanna, Ruth and Susie. The family will privately celebrate Ann's life at a ceremony in the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. If you wish to make a contribution in Ann's memory, she supported the Dallas Wind Symphony (now "Dallas Winds"), P.O. Box 595026, Dallas TX 75359; Hill Country Youth Ranch, P.O. Box 67, Ingram TX 78025; and her local library. For condolences please send to ewinkel317@gmail.com.