Gwendolyn Sue (Denton) Courkamp passed away on Sunday, December 3, 2017 at the age of 69 and went to be with her Lord. Gwen was born on June 28, 1948 in Alvin, Texas to parents, Ruth Pauline (Smith) Denton and Tommie Eugene Denton. She is survived by her loving husband of thirty- nine years, Kim Courkamp and they were married at Oak Meadows Church in Pasadena Texas. Gwendolyn is survived by her siblings, Cynthia Berman (Jenna, Lori, David), Linda Silver & husband Don (Sheridan, Benjamin, Kristen), Tommie Denton, Sallie Sirratt & husband Roger (Heidi, Josh), Regina Adair (Misty, Steven, Ashley, Andrew, Melody) Carol Oliver & husband Oscar (Lauren), her husband’s siblings, Klondo (Rocky, Randy, Tanya), Lee & wife Sandi (Craig, Lane), Kent & wife Karen (Kelly, Kerry). Gwen graduated from Alvin High School in the class of 1967. She worked for Southwestern Bell/ ATT for forty four years as a Engineering Draftsman/Autocad Technician. Gwendolyn was involved in the Pioneer Doll Show and the ATT Charity Organization. Gwen was a member of Oak Meadows Church of God of Prophecy for forty years, where she was a Youth Camp Director, Sunday School teacher, Youth and Children’s Counsellor, worship team member, church bus ministry. She loved fishing, bird watching, stone and rock collecting, camping, travelling, arts and crafts, Church camp, VBS, gospel music, a love for children of all ages, and had a passion for Native American culture and History. Gwendolyn was compassionate, caring, loving, creative, musically inclined, an “outside the box” thinker, lover of nature and beauty.
Facebook post by neice Misty Adair: "Last night, my dear aunt Gwen went to be with Jesus. Her fight on earth is over, and the pain is finished. She was second to the oldest of 7 siblings, and, most days, the one the siblings would turn to for strength and answers to big questions. Compassionate, loving, creative, and beautiful are just a few words that describe who she was...although, my family just keeps saying, “I can’t imagine a world without Gwen in it.” Stubborn in the very best way, and as dedicated a person I’ve ever known, she showed me that my spicy, independent, yet deeply compassionate and loving personality has deep roots in our family. Every Sunday, for as long as I can remember, she and my uncle Kim Courkamp, (her sweet, dedicated husband of nearly 40 years) picked up neighborhood kids in their 15 passenger van and took them to church in their hometown of Pasadena. They loved them, spent time with them, and prayed for their hearts to know the love of God. My aunt Gwen just loved people so much, always lavishing her friends and family with gifts and great stories! I can’t believe she’s gone-it’s like she’s only a blink of an eye away from me... and then I’ll visit her in heaven, sing her more songs, and see what kind of treasures she’s collected in heaven, (she’s always been one to collect trinkets, rocks, shells, jewelry, crafting supplies, you name it!) Oh, and such a lover of the outdoors she was! An expert in all things that exist outdoors, her most precious times were spent with her husband and family traveling through beautiful places, camping, hiking, birdwatching, and fishing. Such a lovely, lovely women. A great emptiness is felt where she existed on this earth. She’s so loved, missed, and always remembered for how well she loved and how many hearts she touched. It didn’t matter if you were a family member, or a stranger-she showed the same love. Uncle Kim, thank you for loving my aunt so well, and being such an amazing example of what it looks like to share in the suffering of the person you love. You guys are both heroes! So great the reward in heaven."
Comments by friend, Dorothy Pittenger Herbert:
Of all my Alvin High School friends, Gwen (and husband Kim) was the only one who ever came to visit me in Canada at Gracefield Camp (a ministry of The Presbyterian Church in Canada). My husband Alan and I felt so honoured to host them. They took such a keen interest in everything we were doing in the ministry here. Even though we had been apart for decades after high school, our lives had many similarities--working with youth, serving at Camp, bearing witness to Jesus our Lord and Saviour. Even our love of nature and music and habit of scrounging for craft materials had similarities.
When we traveled to the Gulf Coast to take my special brother David on camping trips, we would get together with Gwen and Kim for a seafood dinner. Gwen always made David feel so special. She treated him with great respect. Gwen made everybody feel special and loved. It's one of the ways she reflected God's love to all around her.
On December 4th, 2017, I was as yet unaware of Gwen's departure to be in the nearer presence of the Lord. I was making bread, and as I worked the dough, I had an intense experience of Gwen being close by. It was an experience of pure joy. My heart was warmed, and I found myself thinking about what a treasure is Gwen. Now I realize she was just dropping by to say farewell, and remind me that all of life is Good.
Gwen's was a life well-lived, not without pain and hardship, but Good, by the grace of God. I feel blessed to have shared a part of the journey with her.
Dorothy Pittenger (Herbert)