Carol Marlette Tinker

Weslaco-Carol Wicks Tinker, 92, left behind instructions to her family and friends: "Rejoice! Celebrate the terrific life God has given me on this earth!" Such was the joyful philosophy of Carol Tinker, who peacefully
passed from this life after a long illness on November 30, 2013.
Tinker was born in Claire City, South Dakota in 1920 and grew up in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Carol attended high school and New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas. She was active in the
Highlands University community as a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority, Drama, cheerleading, and was
voted Winter Ice Queen. While she was a university student she met her husband, George Tinker, also a
Highlands student, and in 1942 they were married in Waco, TX, where he was attending a U.S. Army Air
Corp flight school. Carol spent the next 22 years as an "Air Force Wife," including 7 1/2 years in Europe. She was president of the Officers Wives' Club on several Air Force bases, and during George's tour of duty in Scotland she won the Stars and Stripes "Good Neighbor Award" in recognition of her public relations efforts. After George's retirement from the Air Force, the Tinkers became business owners of two Dairy Queens in Las
Vegas, New Mexico.
In 1968 Carol became one of the first women to be elected to the New Mexico State House of
Representatives. While in office she fought for women's rights, wrote legislation supporting education
that was used on a national level, fought abortion, helped regulate pollution controls, wrote numerous
bills including a requirement for ambulance drivers to know first aid (really!), changing the voting age to
18 years, improving Gl benefits, and improving funding for indigent patients, to name a few. After
serving in the legislature, she became director of the Chamber of Commerce in Las Vegas, New Mexico,
and went on to be elected statewide president of the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce.
During their 71 year marriage Carol and George were involved in starting a half-dozen Lutheran
churches. In 1988 the Tinkers retired again and moved to Weslaco TX where they helped start yet
another new congregation, Love of Christ. Even late in life she was deeply involved in the Women of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church organization and in her local congregation.
Carol is survived by her husband, George E. Tinker III, Children: Dr. George E. "Tink" Tinker IV and wife
Loring Abeyta of Denver; Anne Baker and husband Will of Edinburg, TX; Tanya Scholz and husband
George of Las Vegas, NM; and Randy Catherine Smith and husband Randy of Skiatook, OK; nine
grandchildren; and ten great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by their daughter Christy Tinker.
Services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, December 6, 2013 at Love of Christ Lutheran Church, 300 S. Border St. in Weslaco. If desired, memorials can be made to Love of Christ Lutheran Church, 914 W. 3rd St., Weslaco, TX 78596.
Arrangements are under the direction of McCaleb Funeral Home of Weslaco.