Barbara Darnall Clinton
1934-2022
1934-2022
Barbara Darnall Clinton, beloved wife, mom, and gramma went home with the Lord on April 8, 2022 in Houston, Texas. Barbara was born in Austin, Texas on September 19, 1934 to Dr. Charles Milton and Gertrude "Queenie" Miller Darnall.
Barbara graduated with honors from Austin High School. She represented the City of Austin in the Tyler Rose Festival, the Buccaneer Days in Corpus Christi, and in San Antonio's Fiesta.
Barbara attended Sweet Briar College for two years before transferring to The University of Texas at Austin, graduating in 1956 with Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Music and History. While at UT, she pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma and served as their song leader. She was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity.
Barbara began her working career at Tennessee Gas in Houston, Texas. During this time she met the love of her life, Daniel D. Clinton, Jr., on a blind date on a July 4th weekend in 1957. They were married on September 6, 1958.
Barbara graduated with honors from Austin High School. She represented the City of Austin in the Tyler Rose Festival, the Buccaneer Days in Corpus Christi, and in San Antonio's Fiesta.
Barbara attended Sweet Briar College for two years before transferring to The University of Texas at Austin, graduating in 1956 with Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Music and History. While at UT, she pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma and served as their song leader. She was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity.
Barbara began her working career at Tennessee Gas in Houston, Texas. During this time she met the love of her life, Daniel D. Clinton, Jr., on a blind date on a July 4th weekend in 1957. They were married on September 6, 1958.
Barbara transitioned to full-time wife, mother and volunteer with the birth of her three children. Similar to her husband, Barbara was destined to be in charge and never learned to say "no" when asked to take on a task, serving her husband's profession and university, children's activities, the community and her church in every capacity possible, but usually as President, Chair or Chief.
Music was always her love, and she taught piano to many neighborhood children. She was a founding member of a singing group, Yesterday's Children. An active member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church and the Randy Smith Bible Study Class, she also served as the President of the St. Luke's UMC Chancel Choir. As the shortest first soprano, she would lead the choir into the sanctuary, and always sat in the first seat on the front row of the choir. She sang numerous solos with her angelic, clear voice. Her nearly 50-year Chancel Choir commitment was supported by Dan, who attended every concert in the second pew with the tape recorder ready to go. Dan and Barbara received St. Luke's Distinguished Life Member award in 2015.
At the urging of her daughter, Laura, she also joined the Houston Masterworks Chorus, and served as the Awards Chairman while singing with the group for over 25 years.
Barbara was a 65-year Kappa and active in the Houston Alumnae Association, using her needlepoint talents to raise money at the Kappa Pilgrimage Homes Tours with highly sought-after Christmas pillows. She served as the Houston representative for UT Rush for several years and was honored with the Houston Kappa Loyalty Award for her numerous contributions to the community.
Barbara served as President and several officer positions in the Frostwood Elementary, Memorial Junior High and Memorial High School PTAs. As the MHS Markette Booster Club Treasurer for several years, she and Dan escorted the drill team on trips to Disneyworld, Hawaii and London. She enjoyed being a Markette, choir, softball, Boy Scout, football, baseball and soccer mom, and all-around volunteer for her children's activities.
Despite graduating as a Longhorn, Barbara quickly converted to being a strong supporter of Texas A&M University. Dan and Barbara donated several scholarships supporting the Corps of Cadets and the Civil Engineering Department. Barbara served as the President of the Friends of the Sterling C. Evans Library. She and Dan donated a bench in honor of their three Aggie graduates in front of the library and purchased, at a Library auction, a male buffalo, named Sterling, which started years of raising buffalo at Pecan Valley Farm near Eagle Lake, Texas. A female named Aggie and, later, Liberty, Reveille and Stitch joined the buffalo family.
When her children decided to attend Texas A&M, Barbara doubled down on volunteerism by serving in every officer position, including President, of the Houston A&M Mother's Club and up to Vice President of the Federation of A&M Mother's Clubs. She loved Aggie football, attending every home game through 2019.
Barbara consistently supported her husband in his numerous activities, serving as the President of the Women's Auxiliaries for the Houston Engineering and Scientific Society, Texas Society of Professional Engineers and National Society of Professional Engineers, as well as the Women of Rotary.
Barbara was well-known for her original Christmas carols, illustrated by Dan, which served as their annual Christmas card. She gave her homemade "Wild Mustang Grape Jelly" as a treat to many each year having spent every July 4th holiday picking grapes at Pecan Valley Farm. She loved puzzles and beating her children and grandchildren at card games, especially the family favorite, "Spite or Malice".
Barbara is survived by her husband, Dan, two daughters and their husbands, Mary Kay Jackson and Charlie, Laura Fulton and David; a son and his wife, Charles Clinton and Brenda; six grandchildren, Chip Jackson and Anna Skinner; Ken Jackson, Shannon Fulton, Connor Fulton, Kyle Clinton and Alyssa Waller, and Garrett Reid; her brother-in-law, Kenneth Clinton and numerous cousins.
The family greatly appreciates the love and attention provided by her team of caregivers for the past four years, Maxine Smith, Olivene Brown, Rita Spencer and Carmen Donis.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, April 13th at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, with a reception following in the Fellowship Hall. The service will also be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person at https://www.stlukesmethodist.org/barbara-clinton.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Friends of Music at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer, Houston, Texas 77027, or to the Friends of the Texas A&M University Libraries, Sterling C. Evans Library, 5000 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843.
Music was always her love, and she taught piano to many neighborhood children. She was a founding member of a singing group, Yesterday's Children. An active member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church and the Randy Smith Bible Study Class, she also served as the President of the St. Luke's UMC Chancel Choir. As the shortest first soprano, she would lead the choir into the sanctuary, and always sat in the first seat on the front row of the choir. She sang numerous solos with her angelic, clear voice. Her nearly 50-year Chancel Choir commitment was supported by Dan, who attended every concert in the second pew with the tape recorder ready to go. Dan and Barbara received St. Luke's Distinguished Life Member award in 2015.
At the urging of her daughter, Laura, she also joined the Houston Masterworks Chorus, and served as the Awards Chairman while singing with the group for over 25 years.
Barbara was a 65-year Kappa and active in the Houston Alumnae Association, using her needlepoint talents to raise money at the Kappa Pilgrimage Homes Tours with highly sought-after Christmas pillows. She served as the Houston representative for UT Rush for several years and was honored with the Houston Kappa Loyalty Award for her numerous contributions to the community.
Barbara served as President and several officer positions in the Frostwood Elementary, Memorial Junior High and Memorial High School PTAs. As the MHS Markette Booster Club Treasurer for several years, she and Dan escorted the drill team on trips to Disneyworld, Hawaii and London. She enjoyed being a Markette, choir, softball, Boy Scout, football, baseball and soccer mom, and all-around volunteer for her children's activities.
Despite graduating as a Longhorn, Barbara quickly converted to being a strong supporter of Texas A&M University. Dan and Barbara donated several scholarships supporting the Corps of Cadets and the Civil Engineering Department. Barbara served as the President of the Friends of the Sterling C. Evans Library. She and Dan donated a bench in honor of their three Aggie graduates in front of the library and purchased, at a Library auction, a male buffalo, named Sterling, which started years of raising buffalo at Pecan Valley Farm near Eagle Lake, Texas. A female named Aggie and, later, Liberty, Reveille and Stitch joined the buffalo family.
When her children decided to attend Texas A&M, Barbara doubled down on volunteerism by serving in every officer position, including President, of the Houston A&M Mother's Club and up to Vice President of the Federation of A&M Mother's Clubs. She loved Aggie football, attending every home game through 2019.
Barbara consistently supported her husband in his numerous activities, serving as the President of the Women's Auxiliaries for the Houston Engineering and Scientific Society, Texas Society of Professional Engineers and National Society of Professional Engineers, as well as the Women of Rotary.
Barbara was well-known for her original Christmas carols, illustrated by Dan, which served as their annual Christmas card. She gave her homemade "Wild Mustang Grape Jelly" as a treat to many each year having spent every July 4th holiday picking grapes at Pecan Valley Farm. She loved puzzles and beating her children and grandchildren at card games, especially the family favorite, "Spite or Malice".
Barbara is survived by her husband, Dan, two daughters and their husbands, Mary Kay Jackson and Charlie, Laura Fulton and David; a son and his wife, Charles Clinton and Brenda; six grandchildren, Chip Jackson and Anna Skinner; Ken Jackson, Shannon Fulton, Connor Fulton, Kyle Clinton and Alyssa Waller, and Garrett Reid; her brother-in-law, Kenneth Clinton and numerous cousins.
The family greatly appreciates the love and attention provided by her team of caregivers for the past four years, Maxine Smith, Olivene Brown, Rita Spencer and Carmen Donis.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, April 13th at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, with a reception following in the Fellowship Hall. The service will also be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person at https://www.stlukesmethodist.org/barbara-clinton.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Friends of Music at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer, Houston, Texas 77027, or to the Friends of the Texas A&M University Libraries, Sterling C. Evans Library, 5000 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843.
Published by Houston Chronicle from Apr. 11 to Apr. 13, 2022.