Carolyn Louise (Springer) England, our mother, sister, G-ma, and friend, passed away in her sleep on March 16, 2018 after a brief illness. She was 83 years young. During her last weeks, she gave the gift of saying goodbye to all of her family and close friends.
Born in Palmerton, Pennsylvania, in November of 1934 to Virginia and Richard Springer, Carolyn was the eldest of two girls who resided most of their young lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. She earned an Associate Degree from William Woods College in Fulton, Missouri. Just 21 years old, Carolyn met engineer Gene England at church, and they married on June 3, 1956 in Indianapolis. They lived in St. Louis, Missouri, and Huntsville, Alabama, before returning to Creve Coeur, Missouri, outside of St. Louis to raise their family.
Carolyn was the quintessential homemaker and was regarded for her organizational talents and tidy habits. She and Gene participated in The Alpha Players community theater troupe in St. Louis for 20 years. Carolyn loved travel, whether in a camper or on a river boat in the U.S., or touring Europe conducting genealogy research. She was an accomplished seamstress, a Girl Scout Leader, Cub Scout Den Mother, frequent activity chaperone and carpool driver for her children. She and Gene owned a hobby and toy store for a few years, and after selling it, Carolyn enjoyed a part-time position at the local Hallmark shop.
Carolyn and Gene left St. Louis for Caldwell, Idaho, in 1994. Energetic until her illness, Carolyn, or G-ma, frequently cared for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, enjoying a close relationship with them. She loved hosting family gatherings with rousing games of Uno. She was a Caldwell PEO chapter member and an avid Caldwell Fine Arts supporter.
She is survived by three children and their spouses, Beth Kopadt (Kurt) of Greenleaf, ID, Bill England (Heather) of Shawnee, KS, and Cathy Springman (Kurt) of Bellevue, WA; six grandchildren and spouses, Amanda Dixon (Byron), Traci Buchanan (Brendan), Cactus & Sami Springman, and Haley & Jack England; two great-grandchildren, Eden & Connor Dixon; her sister, Judy Hale (Dave) of Wheaton, IL; Judy’s two children and spouses; two great nephews and a niece; and sister-in-law, Viola Richards of Lenexa, KS.
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, June 24th at 1:00 p.m. at Caldwell Presbyterian Church, 603 Everett St, Caldwell. Please sign Carolyn’s online guestbook at www.dakanfuneralchapel.com
Remembrances may be made to Caldwell Fine Arts, 2112 Cleveland Blvd, Caldwell, ID 83605; or P.E.O. Foundation, 3700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312.
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