Ina L Green

Ina Green, 89, of Abilene, passed away on Wednesday, February 5, 2020.  Funeral service will be on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at the University Church of Christ.  A visitation with the family will be on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut Street.

Ina Lee (Lynch) Green was born on March 13, 1930 in Byrd, a small rural community in Ellis County, Texas.  She was the second child of Bertie Wayne (B.W.) Lynch, a farmer and Barbara Gertrude “Gertie” (Brock) Lynch, a housewife.  Although neither parent had much formal education, both encouraged the quest for knowledge in their children.  Gertie, in particular, instilled in Ina a fervent intellectual curiosity, a strong sense of social justice, and a love of nature and faraway places.  In 1942, Ina moved with her family to Highlands, Texas, where her father entered the wartime workforce as a pipe fitter for the Humble Oil and Refining Company.  At age 14, Ina set her eyes on Brent Green, who sat in the front of her in 10 ^th grade American History class.  After graduating together from Robert E. Lee High School and Lee College, Ina and Brent married on May 29, 1949.   Ina’s first job entailed picking worms out of peas at a local packing plant in order to earn money to pay for her wedding dress.  Over the next three years Ina worked at United Gas in Houston and the Department of Public Safety in Austin while Brent finished his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Texas at Austin.

In May 1953, Brent began his service in the United States Army serving at Fort Bliss in El Paso.  Ina relocated to El Paso and it was there that she and Brent welcomed their first child, William Brent Green, Junior in 1954.  After his discharge in 1955, Brent and Ina moved to Houston where he obtained employment as a draftsman for Tidelands Exploration Company.  Their second child, Heather D’Wayne Green was born in 1958.  Feeling called to God’s service as Christian educators, the family moved to Abilene where Brent secured a faculty position in the art department at Abilene Christian College (ACC), now Abilene Christian University (ACU).  Soon afterward, Ina enrolled part-time to begin work on a Bachelor of Psychology degree at ACC.  She graduated in 1963.  During her final year of study at ACC, a highly reticent Ina was encouraged by Dr. Max Leach, chairman of the Department of Psychology, to make a speech at the Abilene Women’s Club.  This gesture of support was the impetus for an extensive career as a university professor and public speaker.

In early 1964, Ina and Brent moved their young family to Columbus, Ohio where they each began doctoral studies at The Ohio State University.  They returned to Abilene to teach at ACC for two years from 1966 to 1968 before returning to Ohio State for one additional year.  In 1969, Ina graduated from Ohio State with a Ph.D. in Psychology of Exceptional Children and a minor in Counseling.  In a teaching career that spanned more than 35 years, Ina was a dynamic and popular professor who encouraged her students to broaden their horizons and strive to utilize their full intellectual capacity.  Ina valued her students as individuals and made a point of knowing each by name.  She took great pride in her profession as both professor and mentor, and believed her professional and Christian legacy could be found in the lives and careers of her students.   At ACU, Ina served as the first female president of the ACU Faculty Senate (1980-81), Chairman of the Library Committee, a member of the University Academic Council, the Task Force for Academic Reform, and the Graduate Council.  She retired from ACU in 1998.

Throughout her life, Ina was unafraid of making tough choices and taking stands for what she believed.  She was compassionate, empathetic, and a fierce advocate for the disenfranchised whether due to race, gender, economic condition, or physical limitation. She served on various regional boards and committees including the Taylor County Adult Probation Council and the Abilene Rape Crisis Center.  She also worked as a consultant with the West Texas Rehabilitation Center, the Abilene State School, the Abilene Mental Health Association, and the Region XIV Education Service Center.  Ina was devoted for many years to working with the Abilene chapter of the American Association for University Women (AAUW), serving as the chapter president from 1986 to 1987.

Throughout her life, Ina pursued a passion for learning, nature, travel, and the arts.  She was a voracious reader who enjoyed multiple trips abroad and to the cabin that she and Brent built in the Missouri Ozarks.  However, her greatest joy was time spent with her husband, children, grandchildren, and extended family.  Ina was a lifetime member of the Church of Christ.  She taught Bible classes, made numerous mission trips to Poland, and participated in the Zambia Medical Mission.

Ina is preceded in death by her parents, her husband William Brent Green, and one brother, Vance Lynch.  She is survived by her two children, Dr. William Brent Green, Jr. of Kingwood and wife, Melissa; and Dr. Heather Green Wooten of Kemah and husband, Kevin; four grandchildren, Katie Campbell and her husband Tom Scurfield of London, United Kingdom; Audrey Campbell and husband Neil Derfler of New York, New York; William Brent Green, III and wife, Katie of College Station; and Amanda Green of Abilene.  Survivors also include two brothers, Lynden Lynch and Fred Lynch; sisters-in-law Mary Beth Green Woods, Sarah Lynch, Sherry Lynch; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to Susan Carrasco, Lesa Hale, Rosita Leech, and Jennie Ortiz for the dedicated service rendered to Ina during her long illness.  Heartfelt appreciation is also extended to the staffs of Hendrick Hospice Home Health Care and Wesley Court Senior Living Center.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the National Park Foundation or the Zambia Mission Fund.

Condolences may be offered online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.