Caroline Pauline (Wegener) McGinley Obituary
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Caroline Pauline (Wegener) McGinley (Waco, Texas), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who passed away on September 19, 2020, at the age of 73, leaving to mourn family and friends. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Caroline Pauline (Wegener) McGinley to pay them a last tribute. You may also light a candle in honor of Caroline Pauline (Wegener) McGinley.
It is with profound sadness we announce the passing of Caroline Pauline Wegener McGinley, aged 73, shortly after midnight on September 19, 2020 in Waco, Texas, after courageously facing metastatic breast cancer.
Caroline was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to the late Theodore Joseph Wegener, Jr. and Genevieve Marcella Gordon Wegener. She is also preceded in death by her sister, Margaret Mary Wegener Litton. She was married only one time to Ralph Arnold McGinley on March 9, 1968, finally kicking that man to the curb, divorcing in 2018.
Caroline strived passionately to live up to her Catholic upbringing and later Independent Fundamental Baptist, believing in a woman’s traditional Christian role. Also a Baby Boomer, she had an overwhelming desire for female equality and civil rights for all. To assuage the latter yet remain committed to the former, she instead lived vicariously through her daughter, teaching her strength, courage, and resilience balanced with love and justice. Her fiercely independent child and grandchildren of that line might have gone too far occasionally, driving Caroline to her knees in prayer so many times.
Handwritten in her Bible, “Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.” Ps. 119:33, Caroline’s deep and abiding love for the Lord permeated every aspect of her life. She joyfully served Him in the church nearly her entire life in whatever capacity she was called to fill. She also dearly loved her preacher, Pastor Carlson and his wife, Miss Mary, of Fellowship Baptist Church, of Irving, Texas.
Caroline held no reservations when she believed some behavior or word was out of line to throw anyone, including her own pastors, the “look” that did on occasion drive fear deep into our hearts and cause our blood to freeze. She loved everyone with the Lord’s love, trying to guide us on the right path when we began to stray.
According to Jewish tradition, a person who dies on Rosh Hashanah, which began last night, is a tzaddik, a person of great righteousness. We take great comfort in knowing this powerful prayer warrior now is in the presence of the Lord directly to intercede for and about us. Though those of us remaining on this earthly plane are quite skittish about her direct access to Him now.
Caroline is survived by her devoted daughter and son-in-love as she called him, Dawn Marie and Jeffery Lee Humphrey, of Waco, TX; her son and his wife, Theodore Arnold and Karen McGinley, of Altus, OK; ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her dearest "siblings", cousins all raised together in the same household: Theresa Finney of Philadelphia, Pa and Billy Lowery of Deland, Fl.
Due to the pandemic at this time, the family has chosen, out of love and compassion for others, to postpone her Memorial Service to a later time when we all may safely gather together again to celebrate her beautiful life and love for her family and friends. In honor of her valiant battle with breast cancer this last decade, donations may be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation in her name. We must find a cure.
