Obituary

Carol stiles, 96 of charleston, wv, formally of nashville, tn, passed away monday, november 2, 2015 at hubbard hospice house, charleston, wv.
Carol was born march 27, 1919 and lived in long island, ny with her mother until age 7. Then she began seven years of “life-in-a-suitcase”””spring hill school in litchfield, connecticut (the only co-ed progressive school in the country) and new york camp with teachers trained in opera, piano, and modern dance.

During the depression, she lived with her maternal grandmother in new york city, and completed high school at age 16, then came four years at the private, liberal arts, middlebury college in vermont (1939, with honors, in english).

After college she taught school during the 1940’s. First, for two years in concord, nh at a private grade school, where she especially remembered teaching ball room dancing to young boys from nearby st. Paul’s school. As a summer camp counselor in vermont, she re-met raeburn b. Stiles, a former college classmate. Next, they both became teachers at southfield school (private, progressive, grade and jr. High) in shreveport, la, and they married in 1941. World war ii started and rey left and became a lt. Colonel in the air force; carol continued teaching in shreveport, where their daughter susan was born in 1943.

After wwii they moved to nashville, tn, and rey joined vanderbilt university teaching engineering and math. They lived in nashville over 50 years, except for 21-months recall for military duty at white sands proving grounds, nm. Rey retired as an associate professor, then went to work for the tennessee dept. Of highways and the treasury department and retired once again.
In nashville, carol was very active in many community groups. She was president of ““vanderbilt university women’s club; the tennessee p.E.O. Sisterhood; and presbyterian synodical president and elder (in charleston, wv she attended first presbyterian). Also, she was an art docent; red cross volunteer; children’s home board member; and annually hosted young visitors from europe.
Carol and rey traveled extensively, worldwide, until his death in 2002.
Carol’s daughter, susan, married dr. Richard sibley, an orthopedic surgeon in charleston, wv. They had one son, robert peck sibley, deceased and identical twin girls, allison and husband bill luck who live in washington, dc with their children, ava, lawrence, and theo, (carol’s three great-grandchildren); and laura sibley who lives and works in costa rica. Susan and dick persuaded carol to move to edgewood summit to be close to them and to see her granddaughters and great-grandchildren more often.
Memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.M. On saturday, november 14th at first presbyterian, charleston, wv with dr. Jim roberts officiating.
Visitation and reception will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.
Carol was laid to rest beside her loving husband rey, in woodlawn cemetery, nashville, tennessee.