Carolyn S. Schmidt's Obituary
Carolyn Sue Gonzalez Schmidt, aged 77, died peacefully the morning of September 29, 2014 under the care of Hospice and her two daughters in her home at 2330 Barons Ct. Tavares, Florida 32278 after a brief yet aggressive struggle with cancer. Carolyn was born August 30, 1937, at Ball Memorial Hospital, in Muncie, Indiana, the daughter of Winfred Jack and Anna Ethel Miles. Carolyn graduated from Muncie Central High School and immediately join the United States Air Force, serving for approximately a year and a half when she was honorably discharged on September 25, 1957.
Carolyn thoroughly enjoyed family and friends yet her true passion was music. She learned to play the piano at an early age and continued playing even up to her last days. She never passed up an opportunity to play the piano or organ for her church, enjoying positions as the music director at Curry Ford United Methodist in Orlando, FL, the Chapel at Albrook Air Force Base Canal Zone - Panama, Goss United Methodist in Orlando, FL and Bethel United Methodist in Waynesville, NC. While in Panama, Central America, Carolyn wrote a song entitled “Let’s Walk Together”, a song that was published in 1974 in the United Methodist Hymnal.
In addition to raising three children and juggling the car rides to each of their athletic events Carolyn volunteered her time to her children’s elementary school, directing plays and playing the piano for recitals. She made stain glass, pottery, and candy for us to sell to friends, worked for a medical firm as a transcriptionist then started her own transcription company (twice). Everything she touched seemed to prosper.
Carolyn is survived by her twin brothers, Gene and Jack Miles and her husband Larry Schmidt; daughters, Lisa Renee Gonzalez of Durham, NC and Lori Ann Gonzalez of Tavares, FL; son, Monte Kevin Gonzalez of Charlotte, NC; 1 niece; 7 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and a number of other relatives and close friends.
A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2014 at 10:00AM at the First United Methodist Church of Tavares. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society for cancer research. Arrangements have been entrusted to Steverson, Hamlin & Hilbish Funerals and Cremations, 226 E. Burleigh Blvd., Tavares, FL 32778, (352)343-4444. Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall.
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