Diana Gail Tinsley

Diana Gail Tinsley, age 82, of Knoxville, went to be with God on Thursday, December 11, 2025. She was born in Knoxville, TN, on September 30, 1943, to John E. Tinsley and Iva Hurst Tinsley. She graduated from Fulton High School and received a Bachelor of Science in history from the University of Tennessee, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Diana's career with the Social Security Administration was a pride and joy for her as she was able to help people on a daily basis. Diana was a loyal University of Tennessee sports fan, especially for the Lady Vols and the football team. She was an officer in the American Association of University Women and the Knoxville Square Club. Her love was for traveling the world. Like her forefathers, Diana's heart was Southern Baptist, but she also found solace in the Course in Miracles and hosted a women's study group in her home for 20 years. After retirement, she completed writing the stories of her ancestors, tracing her family back to the beginnings of Jamestown. Completing the family tree satisfied her lifelong mission to leave something for her family. She is survived by her sister, Patricia Elaine Luft, and husband, Duane, of Lakewood, Colorado; and her three nieces, Heather Duffey, Charity Guyot, and Carmody Powell, all of Colorado. Family and friends will gather on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at Greenwood Cemetery, 1500 Tazewell Pike, Knoxville, TN 37918, at 12:45 PM for a 1:00 PM graveside service. Diana requested that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the East Tennessee Historical Society, honoring her lifelong love of history. Rose Funeral & Cremation - Broadway is honored to serve the Tinsley family.