Carol B. Kuykendall

Carol Kuykendall departed September 18, 2021, Carol was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 68 years, John D Kuykendall. Her Christian faith, family and education were guiding passions.

Graduating Magna Cum Laude from Hardin Simmons University, in 1953, she began a teaching career of 32 years, in Texarkana, Texas. Before moving to Houston in 1963 , Carol received her Master of Arts from ETSU. As a teacher at Bellaire Sr. High in Houston she became English Department Chair, and subsequently the national president of National Council of Teachers of English.

Her next teaching position at Rice University in 1973 was abbreviated by her appointment to the Director of English/Language Arts position for Houston Independent School District (HISD), which she held until 1982 when she became Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum for HISD.

Additionally, she taught graduate courses at UH Clear Lake at this time.

Though health concerns forced retirement in 1990, Carol was quickly recruited as the first (“Interem,” she insisted) director of the Houston Children’s Museum, where she created an innovative, joyful environment for learning. Her life and career has inspired that same joy in generations of students and teachers, as did her book Mind Matters which she coauthored with Dan Kirby. She and John retired to Wimberley in 1995 where she wrote four additional books about her family.

Carol is survived by her sister Faithe Dennis; son Mark and his wife Lois; son Kevin, and wife Lisa; and son David. She has two grandchildren, Ellen Ausley and Jason Kuykendall; and six great grandchildren.

Her life, full of grace, will be forever cherished.

Visitation at Thomason Funeral Home in Wimberley 1 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, September 23. A service will follow visitation at 3 p.m., followed by interment at Wimberley Cemetery.