Diane Abney Lunow
Spouse’s Name: Jerry Lunow
Number of Children: 3

1. What unusual or important event has happened to you since you turned 50 or 60?

I became a grandmother to twins. I moved to Wimberley. WHAT a Change from Houston to Wimberley.

2. Have you done anything exciting you have always wanted to do but for whatever reason you were holding back? For example; Have you started a new or unusual business, found a new hobby, or taken a trip somewhere you have always wanted to visit?

I have been traveling a lot. Most exciting was Hawaii, Turkey, and Poland.

3. What do you plan to do in the next five or ten years?

We are designing and building a house.

4. In this second or third chapter of your life, what have you done for someone else? Have you given something back?

I care for my father in law. Herbert W. Lunow. Herbert is 100 years old and much more alert and brain wise than I am. He is a treat in my life!

5. What is the best thing about your career?

I work for myself and set my own hours. I like my boss and sleep late when I wish to.

6. What kind of philanthropic projects do you enjoy the most?

For many years, Jerry and I have been involved in the “care of the earth.” We help nature take care of our part of it, (the earth that is.) Jerry is an architect and a landscape architect. We have been involved in “Green building” long before that term was around. WE cared for six parks in Houston and about 1/2 miles of edge on Buffalo Bayou.

Now, we own acreage that is “Wildlife designated.” There we cut, plant, trim, water, list, and otherwise, care for the plants. We feed, water, list and watch the birds. We list and photograph other wildlife that lives there.

7. Have you received awards or honors over the years? If so, what are they?

Yes, but they are not the important part of my life. My children, grand children, and other relationships are much more important.

8. What is the most fun thing you have done this decade?

Traveling with my youngest daughter to Turkey was a BLAST. We went “Native.” It was great! We also took our three children and the three son in laws on a cruse last spring. That is a great way to travel with the group. Mostly because you get to see them, do fun things and you don't spend the whole time with all of them. It is great for one-on-one and time alone.

9. How are you different from the kid we knew in 1962?

Aside from size? I think I am much more considerate of other people.

10. Served in the military? Like to share any of those experiences?

Did not serve.

On another note: What funny thing happened in high school with a friend or teacher(s) that you are no longer embarrassed to share some 45 years later?

I still remember talking about Mr. Webb and turning around to find him there, behind, me listening to me.

I do wish I had fostered more Life-long friendships with my high school classmates. The people I thought I would have in my life forever, just did not work out that way. As we get older, our values change and so do our friends. I guess if I were closer to Arlington, those friendships would have held. I DO MISS MOLLY CROUCH ANDERSON ! Molly was not really a friend in high school, however, we had talked a lot in the later years.

Since receiving bachelor’s degrees in restaurant management, interior decoration, and pre-school education from the University of Houston, Diane has had many jobs—some challenging some very boring. Diane has taught chemistry and physics in high school; built shrike missiles; managed and did the buying for Teas Nursery; raised three children; sold jewelry in a retail store; written a cook book; owned her own gift shop; bought, remodeled, and sold three houses; and volunteered in many organizations. One of her personal favorite volunteer positions was in 1997, when she facilitated the donation and planting of 3500 oak trees in the city of Houston as well as the remodeling of six Houston city parks. Diane Abney Lunow now lives in Houston with her husband, Jerry, who is an Architect.

Diane focuses most of her attention on her art. She now does basket weaving; her pieces are featured in several galleries, including the Asher Gallery in the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. Diane’s daughters all living in the Austin, Texas area. As we all know, our children can be a great source of pride. This is particularly true for Diane. Mostly she is delighted that her girls are happy. Additionally, they are all productive individuals who take care of themselves and know how to get anything they want.

Moving from town to town as Diane grew up was not the best of things (her father was a contractor). However, it did teach Diane to meet new people and get along with almost anyone. This was a good lesson. Diane moved to Arlington in the fifth grade, where she then moved to a different school building almost every year until she graduated from Arlington High School. She looks back on her school years with fondness and joy. As Martha Stewart would say “They were a good thing.”

Jerry and Diane have been married 39 years in August of this year (2002). They both look forward to moving to the Austin area in the next couple of years.