Carroll Sue “Karol” Winegardner, retired artist and educator, died peacefully at her residence at Meadowlark Hills in Manhattan, Kansas, on January 3, 2024. She was 88.
Karol had made Manhattan her home since 1966, when she began her teaching career in the visual arts department at Kansas State University, teaching graphic design.
She was dedicated to her students, and was a driving force behind the KSU Art Newsletter, a news and networking publication for alums and former students. She retired from teaching in 1997 after 31 years as assistant professor, but continued to keep in touch with many of her former students and colleagues from K-State.
Before her career in academia, Karol worked as a layout and pasteup artist in Houston, Texas. She spent two years in Germany working as a Recreation Specialist, with the Department of Army, Special Services, planning and scheduling social activities and trips for enlisted personnel. During her time there she travelled to Italy, Turkey and Greece, sparking a lifelong love of travel.
Her international journeys included trips to China, Ireland, Mexico and Canada. She travelled often to destinations across the United States, visiting friends and family. With her sister, Anna L. Moore, she made memorable trips to New York City, Mackinac Island, Michigan and Rockport, Massachusetts.
Karol’s interests included reading, horse racing, watching football and movies, and dining with friends. She was an avid collector of antique valentines and buttons, tin toys and pop-up books. She was also a collector of friends, many of whom she had known since her youth. She was a supporter of many charitable causes.
Carroll Sue Winegardner was born July 11, 1935, in Butler, Missouri, to Ray and Naomi Edrington Winegardner. She was the younger of two daughters. The family moved during her formative years, living in Kansas City, Unionville and Macon, Missouri, returning to Butler where she graduated Valedictorian from Butler High School, class of 1953.
Her post-secondary education included the Kansas City Art Institute, BFA ,1960 (Painting & Drawing, Commercial Art, Lettering); San Francisco Art Institute and Oklahoma University, Norman Oklahoma, MFA, 1963 (Painting & Drawing).
She was preceded in death by her parents, nephew Alan Moore, and brother-in-law C.A. Moore.
She is survived by her sister, Anna L. Moore, Butler, Missouri; nephew Evin Moore and wife, June, of Kansas City, niece Julie Dye of Garland, Texas; and grandniece and grandnephew, Ashley Dickerson and Blake Dye, of Garland, Texas, and many dear cousins.
A remembrance for family and friends will be held at the Butler Presbyterian Church, 301 Fulton Street, Butler, Missouri, at 1:00p.m., January 27.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to Macular Degeneration Research, www.brightfocus.org or Butler Presbyterian Church. Contributions may be sent in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502. ymlfuneralhome.com