Carol Ann Steen Bumpas' Obituary
Carol Ann Steen Bumpas passed away at her home in Richardson, Texas on July 6th, 2025 at the age of 77.
Carol was born on September 18th, 1947 in Tyler, Texas to Charles and Corbie Steen following the birth of her older brother Charles Junior four years prior in California.
From a young age Carol always had a passion for childrens' education. After graduating from Tyler Lee High School in 1965, she attended the University of North Texas where she obtained her degree in Elementary Education in 1969. While at North Texas, she was a member of the Chi Omega sorority.
Carol had an affection for the city of Dallas, and decided to take a job downtown working at American Petrofina before she dedicated the rest of her career to education. Shortly thereafter, she accepted her first teaching job at Hamilton Park Elementary School, part of an originally all-Black subdivision in North Dallas that had yet to be integrated following the historic Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision ruling racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
It was while living and teaching in Dallas that she met her future husband Carl while attending a social mixer at her apartment complex. They were married on July 13, 1974 and moved to Richardson to begin a family together. Jud was born in 1978 and Alex soon followed in 1981. Richardson made for the perfect location to start their life together as Carl was working for Rockwell International as an Airborne Systems Engineer and Carol had a desire to return to teaching in Richardson ISD once the boys were in school. When Carl died unexpectedly in 1983, Carol returned to teaching immediately to navigate her new reality as a single working mother of two young children.
When she returned to teaching, this time at Yale Elementary in Richardson, she taught both sixth and fourth grade, specializing in reading and writing. It was there that she finished her teaching career of nearly 40 years. Carol was loved and respected by her students and coworkers. Parents appreciated her for her knowledge of child development and astute diagnostic skills when working with children. She was also a mentor to young teachers striving to bridge the gap between old and new teaching styles.
By the mid-1980s, Carol and her sons were regular members of Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church. Her parents were members of First Presbyterian Church in Tyler, TX and Carol first discovered Preston Hollow during a Presbyterian youth conference as a young woman. Over the decades, Carol proudly served Preston Hollow as a member, elder, Sunday school teacher, youth sponsor, children’s choir accompanist and proud mission volunteer. The Presbyterian church’s steadfast commitment to inclusivity, service and public education was deeply important to Carol and her faith.
Carol cherished her time spent with family, and particularly enjoyed regular summer trips with her boys to Durango, Colorado to visit their Uncle Charlie when they were young. She was an excellent cook and baker, and her homemade pies were the highlight of family gatherings. Carol was a music lover, an accomplished pianist herself, and passed along her gifts and appreciation of music to her sons. In these past six years, Carol found immense joy in being “Mimi” to the next generation of Bumpas boys, her grandsons.
Through all of her life, one thing remained constant: her steadfast faith in a God of love, wisdom and acceptance. This belief bathed her in warmth during the happiest of times and provided much needed light to overcome the darkness of tragedy and unthinkable loss.
She is survived by her brother Charles Steen Jr; her son Jud; her son Alex, her daughter-in-law Kristen; and her two grandchildren Henry and Logan.
Her warmth, kindness, strength, wisdom, and unwavering love will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Carol was a friend to many who will miss her laughter and light in the world.
A celebration of Carol's life will be held at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church, 9800 Preston Rd Dallas, TX on Friday, July 18th at 11am.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider a donation to one of the following organizations in Carol’s memory:
National “Educate a Child, Change the World” Initiative, PCUSA
E052178 - National "Educate a Child, Change the World" Initiative | Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
No Kid Hungry
https://www.nokidhungry.org
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