Obituary: Aline Geneva Lewis Hinton

IMG_20150806_171218_479Aline Geneva Lewis Hinton was born on Dec. 2, 1922, at home to her parents Grady and Agnes Lewis in the Big Rock Community, near Eustace, Texas. She died on August 5, 2015, in Temple, Texas. Aline, who became later known as first “Sister” then “Mama” and later “Grandma” grew up with her siblings- Alton, Tex (Earl), Polly (Lois), and Joyce on the family farm. They rode horses to school and did chores on the farm to grow crops of vegetables and cotton for family use and to sell at the Dallas Farmers’ Market.

Before becoming a wife and mother, Aline served in the U.S. Army in World War II where she drove a bus and worked in the post office. She worked in many capacities in her life including barber, beautician, Curtis Mathis, Dairy Queen, helping run a dairy farm, and doing food demonstrations at grocery stores. She owned and operated her own beauty shops in Athens and Eustace for almost 50 years. She was active in the Toastmasters Organization serving in leadership roles including Area Governor.

Aline loved cooking hot rolls, fried fish, monster cookies, pies and other good food for her friends and family. She won first place in the Squash Cookoff at the Eustace Pioneer Days for several years. She was a formidable domino, 42, and 84 player until her death. She loved being around people and never met a stranger. She never complained and always had a smile on her face.

She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Joyce and Adron Hall of Phoenix, Arizona, her children, Jim and Jowauna Stegall of El Paso, Judy and Sam Jock of Casper, Wyoming, and Jerry and Paula Stegall of Troy, Texas. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Shelly Jock, Samuel Jock, Matt Jock and wife Jenni Jock, Sarah Stegall, Sabre Page, and Kelli Weir and husband Randy Weir as well as several great and great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many good friends.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.