Carol Thorpe Follas, age 73, of The Villages, FL, died peacefully Sunday, August 14, 2016, at the Villages Regional Hospital with her family by her side.
She was predeceased by her father, Thomas Edwin Thorpe and mother, Ruth Louise Clemens.
In August, 1965, she married her best friend, Robert (Bob) Follas in Chicago, IL. They would have celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary this coming Sunday.
They spent five years in the navy, including Bob’s deployment to Vietnam and three years in Japan. Carol created a loving home raising their two girls as they moved around the country for the next 30 years.
Bob and Carol moved to the Villages in 2000 and immediately began enjoying all of the wonderful experiences the community provided. They joined the Orange Blossom Squares dancing group and served one year as co-presidents. Carol volunteered as an AARP Tax-Aide and was a charter member of the Villages Regional Hospital Auxiliary, where she served for twelve years including several years as Day Captain. She was an avid bridge player and especially enjoyed her Tuesday and Thursday afternoon groups.
Carol is survived by her husband Bob, her daughters Tracy (Mark) Jarrells of Minneapolis, MN and Cindy (Paul) Pitts of Killingworth, CT, and her brother Robert (Betsy) Thorpe of Oklahoma City, OK. She is loved by her five grandchildren, Maxwell and Sheridan Jarrells, Jackson, Cooper and Ethan Pitts.
A memorial service celebrating Carol’s life will be held at the Hiers-Baxley Funeral Home, The Villages, on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 at 3 p.m.
