Carol Ruth Holland (Whitten), beloved mother of Steven, Joseph, Michael, and Susan, passed away April 3, 2013, surrounded by her family. Carol was born June 9, 1935 in Jerome Arizona, the first of four children of Carl and Marie Whitten.
Her father was the publisher of the Jerome newspaper, and the family left Jerome for Phoenix when the copper mine in Jerome ceased operations. In Phoenix, Carol graduated from Saint Mary’s High School, where she played competitive softball and volleyball.
In April of 1954, Carol married William J. Holland and after Bill’s service in the army was complete, the couple moved to Los Angeles, and later to Diamond Bar, California. Carol had a strong work ethic, and taught Sunday School, volunteered in her children’s schools, and later worked as an Office Manager in health care, retiring from Cigna Corporation in 1999. She also worked for many years as a booking manager for Catalina Passenger Service in Newport Beach, California.
She was a talented artist, and enjoyed making gifts and crafts for her family. She enjoyed road trips throughout the Pacific Northwest and Southwest, traveling with her family and especially her sister Ann, and sisters-in-law Sally and Ruth. She often accompanied her brother Bob to Mexico and later traveled with family to Hawaii, Canada, France, and England. She greatly enjoyed hitting the local art museums in the cities she visited.
Carol had a deep love for all her family, her four children, their spouses and her grandchildren. Carol had many close and long-time friends who appreciated her warmth and compassion, and her spirit of fun. Living by the Golden Rule was a given for Carol, and she was a person you could always count on, and someone you could always talk to about anything. She was a good listener and would give sound advice to all who asked.
Carol was the core of her family, and carried many of us through hardship, loss, and celebrated our successes. She is survived by her four children and their families: Steven and Angela Holland and their two sons, Quinn and Daniel; Joe and Shelley Holland and their two children, Alisha and Mack; Mike and Barbie Holland and their two children, Brittney and Benjamin; and Susan and Jeff Brosnan and their son Devon. She is also survived by her siblings, Jim Whitten of Cave Creek, AZ, and her sister Ann Wirries in San Antonio, TX; and is preceded in death by her brother Bob Whitten in 1986.
Her kindness and calm spirit hid a strong will, tenacious character, and brave heart. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her, but she has given us many fond memories, and her gifts of love and compassion will stay with us always.
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to University of Washington Medicine.