Carol Timblin

CHARLESTON, IL – Carol Wiltberger Smith Timblin, age 94 of Charleston, died on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 in the comfort of her daughter’s home.  Visitation will be held from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 6, 2018 at Adams Funeral Chapel in Charleston.  A Memorial Service honoring and celebrating her life will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Friday at the funeral chapel. 

Carol was born May 5, 1924 in DeKalb, Illinois, the only child of the late Sidney Partridge and Grace Lois (Wiltberger) Smith.  She married Robert Coe Timblin on December 8, 1945 in the chapel on Northwestern University’s Evanston campus.  They celebrated 61 years of marriage prior to his death on November 13, 2007.  Left to cherish her memory are four daughters:  Carol Hendricks, Addison, Illinois; Deborah Muller (the late S. John), Charleston; Anne Allen (James), Seabrook, Texas; and Kathryn Wagner (Daniel), Ocala, Florida; eighteen grandchildren:  Jason (Meeta) Hendricks, Darcy (Matthew) Nee, Tracy (Jeff) West, Wendy (Jeff) Katanick, Sylvester John Muller III (fiancée Lainey), Melissa (Matt) Hickox, Erica Muller, Jessica (Sean) Pascoe, Natalie (Robert) Frodsham, Amanda (Andrew) Montalto, Jeremy Allen, Gregory (Renee) Allen, Jaymie (Ladd) Hoffman, Scott Wagner, Christopher Wagner, Jennifer Wagner, Natasha Wagner and Max Wagner; eleven great-grandchildren; and six nieces & nephews including a dear niece, Kahren Ehlen, who had lived with Robert and Carol.  In addition to her husband, Carol was predeceased by son-in-law, S. John Muller.

Carol was a graduate of DeKalb High School and Northern Illinois University where she majored in violin and minored in math.  She taught prior to marriage and then was a substitute teacher in the Charleston School District for many years.  After retirement, she worked at J.C. Penny in Mattoon.  Carol retained membership in the Congregational Church, DeKalb.  She was a member of League of Women Voters, Governor Edward Coles—Sally Lincoln Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, E.I.U. Drama Club, and Sigma Alpha Iota Professional Women’s Music Fraternity. 

Carol was a gifted, talented and gracious woman.  As a violinist, she shared Robert’s love of music, performing regularly in a quartet and with the E.I.U. Symphony Orchestra for which she and her husband were acknowledged with an award for 52 years of performance.  Carol always had time for her daughters, serving as a Girl Scout troop leader, day camp leader, and council member.  Her superb sewing skills were evident throughout her home as well as her daughters’ and extended to beautifully-stitched wedding and bridesmaid dresses.  She baked and intricately decorated wedding cakes.  She was a talented gardener, loved to play bridge, and played tennis, swam, hiked and camped.  She refinished furniture and caned chairs.  A great source of pride was the grandfather clock Robert constructed and she finished. Carol’s love for music, community, family and friends was apparent in all she did.

Inurnment will take place later at Oakwood Cemetery in DeKalb, Illinois.  Donations in her honor may be made to Eastern Illinois University Foundation (please specify Robert or Carol Timblin Fund on memo line).  Gifts may be left at the visitation/service or mailed in care of Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Dr., Charleston, IL 61920.