Irving Finklea's Obituary
FINKLEA, IRVING CARROLL Husband, Father, Grandfather and Great Grandfather, Irving Carroll Finklea, a life long resident of Dallas, Texas was born on November 23, 1921 to Robert and Bessie Finklea, the fourth of five children. After a wonderful, amazing life, Carroll passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on February 10, 2007. He was 85. His life was defined by the love and commitment he shared with his family.In January of 1940 he graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, Texas, where he played on the Varsity Woodrow Wilson Basketball Team. Carroll then enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve as a Yeoman third class. He achieved a rank of Petty Officer first-class. In 1944-45, he attended Officers Training School at Southeast Missouri State College in Cape Girardeau, Mo. and Tulane University at New Orleans, La. Then, in 1948, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas in Austin. After having worked on the Central Expressway Project for the Texas Highway Department, he began his consulting engineering career in April 1951 with Forrest & Cotton. On May 31, 1951, Carroll married the love of his life, Helen Perry Pruyn. They were married for 55 wonderful years. During his 18-year career with Forrest & Cotton, he worked on numerous engineering projects, including the Trinity Industrial District Development, the Dallas-Ft. Worth Turnpike (I-30), the Dallas-Ft. Worth Regional Airport, the rehabilitation of the Firestone Test Track at Fort Stockton, Texas and the Dallas Love Field expansion project. In August of 1969, Carroll became a partner in a new engineering firm called Shimek, Roming, Jacobs & Finklea. Several years later, the firm became Shimek, Jacobs & Finklea, Consulting Engineers. The new partnership met with success in many areas of civil engineering. As the partner in charge of transportation projects for the firm, he designed tollways, highways, thoroughfares, drainage systems and utilities for the Texas Turnpike Authority, Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation, City of Plano, Dallas County Public Works, City of Dallas Public Works, and the Federal Aviation Administration. Later in his career, he was the project manager in the design of a 1.9-mile section of the Dallas North Tollway for the Texas Turnpike Authority. Carroll retired after a 54 year career in civil engineering in 2002.During his career, Carroll participated in many professional and civic activities including being a University of Texas Student Charter Member, American Society of Civil Engineers Life/Fellow Member, ASCE President- Dallas Branch, Texas Society of Professional Engineers Member, Board Member of the Dallas Chapter TSPE, and Consulting Engineers Council of Texas Member. In February 1989-90, Carroll was named ‘Engineer of the Year in Dallas’ by the Dallas Chapter TSPE and was recognized by his peers at the National Engineers’ Week banquet. Carroll was a past member of the Dallas Chamber of Commerce Membership Committee. He was also a past member of the Rotary Club of Dallas, Big Brothers of Dallas, and the Engineering Club of Dallas. Additionally, he served on the Board of Directors for the White Rock Y.M.C.A.Along with his numerous professional accomplishments, his greatest achievement was the unselfish love and dedication he provided to his family. Some of his personal accomplishments included coaching his son in Y.M.C.A. basketball, watching his children and grandchildren perform in school activities, performances and sports, researching and compiling family genealogy, and running a small farm in East Texas. In his early years, Carroll and his wife, Helen, enjoyed their involvement with the Danceros Dance club where he served as president for a time. In more recent years, he enjoyed working out at the CVC and his monthly get-togethers with the S.O.B. Club (Sweet Old Boys), a group of old friends and business associates who meet for fellowship and lunch at the Addison Caf’. He was an author and editor of several books and short stories. Most recently, he wrote a comprehensive book about the Forest & Cotton Engineering Firm days. Proceeds from the sale of this book went toward an Engineering Academic Scholarship, and the book was dedicated to fellow engineer Jim T. Rankin. Carroll is survived by his wife, Helen Finklea, his children, Karen Wilson and husband Ron, Colleen Wiese and husband Sid, Becky McKemie and husband Charles, and Sam Finklea and wife Robin. He is also survived by nine grandchildren, Greg Wilson, Jennifer Wilson Bell, Megan Wiese Derry, Summer Wiese, Emily Wilson, Jordan Wilson, Caroline Finklea, Max Finklea and Brittany McKemie. Carroll has three great grandchildren, Mackenzie Bell, Addie Derry and Will Derry.Funeral services will be held at Lake Gighlands United Methodist Church on Tuesday, February 13, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be held on Monday, February 12, 2007 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Restland Funeral Home.
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