CAROLYN WALLER
Carolyn Guinn Waller, age 68 of Albany, passed away at home on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020. A memorial service was held Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, at the outdoor pavilion of the Albany Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Melton-Kitchens Funeral Home of Breckenridge.
A lifetime educator, family historian and avid quilter, Carolyn was born Nov. 30, 1952, to Odus and Edith Edgar Guinn in Andrews, Texas. At age six, she and her family moved to Albany. She graduated from Albany High School in 1971 as valedictorian of her class and enrolled in Texas Tech University as a first-generation college student.
In 1975, Carolyn married her high school sweetheart, Robert C. Waller of Albany, Texas. The following year, she graduated from Texas Tech with a bachelor’s degree in education and earned teaching certifications in kindergarten and elementary education.
She began her education career at Ralls Elementary School in Ralls, Texas. After her husband graduated from college, the couple returned to their hometown, where she accepted a teaching position at Nancy Smith Elementary School.
When an opportunity to serve as librarian for Albany Independent School District became available, Carolyn attended graduate school at the University of North Texas to secure the position, graduating in 1981 with a master’s degree in library science. She served as librarian for the district’s two campuses, Nancy Smith Elementary School and Albany Jr/Sr High School, and oversaw renovations of both libraries during her tenure.
She was faculty sponsor for the school’s chapter of National Honor Society and UIL coordinator for the high school’s academic contests, where she coached students in the prose and poetry competition.
Active in her profession, Carolyn was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, which promotes professional and personal growth of women educators. She served two terms as president of the local Kappa Sigma Chapter, served one term as Area X coordinator and led two state committees with Alpha State, Texas. She was also a member of Beta Sigma Phi, a women’s networking sorority.
After retiring with 30 years of service to Albany ISD, Carolyn devoted her time to community service. She was active in the Albany Retired Teacher’s Association, and as a member of the Albany Study Club, she was a driving force behind the club’s successful capital campaign to expand and renovate the Shackelford County Public Library.
Building the library’s collection and services were a personal passion, and she often took shifts working behind the circulation desk. As the three-time president of the study club, she was active in its parent organization, the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs, where she served two terms as Mesquite District president and led multiple state committees.
In 2011, she was elected to the Albany City Council, where she represented her neighbors and worked to strengthen her community for nine years. She was an active member and Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church in Albany, where she worked as church secretary for the past seven years.
Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Jacqueline Guinn; and her brother, Odus Guinn Jr.
She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Robert C. Waller of Albany; two sons, Robert D. Waller of Dallas and William Waller and wife, Mary R. Glavan, of New Orleans; her sister, Bobbie Guinn Cox of Albany; nephew, Jim Cox of Albany; and great-niece, Haily Cox of Albany.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Shackelford County Public Library, First Baptist Church of Albany scholarship fund, or the Robert C. And Carolyn G. Waller Endowed Scholarship at Texas Tech University and may be left at the Melton Kitchens Funeral Home in Breckenridge. Condolences may be made at meltonkitchens.com. PD
