Barbara L. Stinson

Barbara Louise (Kukulski) Stinson, 79, passed away in Dallas, Texas on Saturday, January 28, 2023.

Born February 20, 1943, in Steubenville, Ohio, she was the daughter of Walter and Dorothy Kukulski. Barbara spent the first 20 years of her life in Weirton, West Virginia in a loving home with her parents and younger sister, Dolores. Barbara graduated from Madonna High School in 1960, where she was a cheerleader, and was grateful to have reconnected with high school classmates later in life at their 50th high school reunion in Las Vegas.

As a six-year-old, she discovered her lifelong passion of dance. Throughout her childhood and into her late teens, she performed and taught dance. She even had the opportunity to study dance in New York City with June Taylor and later perform at the iconic Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, California. These experiences opened Barbara’s eyes to the world outside of her small hometown and led her to become a flight attendant with United Airlines. Her years in the “friendly skies” were full of memorable flights, but none compared to the one where she met the love of her life and husband of 40 years, William (Bill) Stinson on a flight from Seattle to Washington, D.C.

Barbara was always up for an adventure, and that is what she got being married to Bill. They spent their 40 years together living from the East Coast in Washington, D.C. to out West in Las Vegas, Nevada with stops in between. They eventually settled in Dallas, Texas where she and Bill raised their four children – Carey, Casey, Lisa, and Melissa. Barbara was a dedicated wife and mother, who did everything with style and grace. She made countless sacrifices in her lifetime for her family, but none greater than taking care of Bill in their home the last four years of his life.

As Barbara’s children grew up, she realized she needed to find something for herself. That is when she returned to her first love and began teaching dance to young children with the Kid’s Dance Company in Plano, Texas. “Miss Barbara,” as her students called her, shared her knowledge of and passion for dance with hundreds of young children for 25 years until she retired in 2020. Along with her love of dance, she was an avid Jazzerciser for over 40 years, often putting much younger classmates to shame with her level of fitness and use of 6-lb hand weights!

Sports were another passion of Barbara’s. She and her dear friends, “The Sports Mamas,” watched countless Cowboys, Mavericks, Rangers, and Stars games over the years. Barbara cheered for every Dallas team, but no team compared to her beloved Cowboys. She spent more than 50 years as a Cowboy fan and stood by them through thick and thin. In 2016, she finally attended her first Thanksgiving Day game after years of spending the day in the kitchen preparing Thanksgiving dinner for her family. After experiencing that beautiful Fall day tailgating with her family and watching her ‘Boys win, she said it was the best day of her life.

Although Barbara was sick the last few years of her life, she still enjoyed the same simple pleasures of spending time with her family and friends, eating good food, taking walks, listening to music, and watching sports. She was even able to watch the Cowboys last playoff game the weekend before she passed. Her family was thankful to be able to surround her with love during her final days.

Barbara is survived by her sister, Dolores (Stephen) King; and children, Carey (Andrea) Stinson, Casey Stinson, Lisa (Stuart) Jeffcoat, and Melissa (Brent) Ellis. Barbara is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her loyal 4-legged companions, Max, and Dakota.

Services will be held on Tuesday, March 14, at 1:00pm at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery (2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75211) where Barbara will be laid to rest with her beloved husband. A reception will follow at The Star (1 Cowboys Way, Frisco, TX 75034).

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to the Texas Ballet Theater or the charity of your choice. Barbara’s family is grateful for the outpouring of love and support they have received during this difficult time. They would like to say a special thank you to the caregivers and staff at Iris Memory Care of Turtle Creek and Amatus Hospice. The care and compassion they showed Barbara over the last year and a half of her life will always be remembered and appreciated.

Whether known as Barbara, Barb, Babalu, Mama B, Miss Barbara, Babs, or Mom, she touched countless people during her 79 years, and she will be remembered for her selflessness, her style, her grace, and the love she gave to her family and friends.

Please leave the family condolences and share memories on this website.

Arrangements under the direction of:
Aria Cremation Service and Funeral Home
1820 N. Beltline Road
Irving, Texas 75061
(972) 607-4400