Carol Renfrew

RENFREW, Carol (Campbell) (Age 96) Carol Joy Campbell Renfrew, 96, passed away peacefully on January 12, 2010, at Good Samaritan Village in Moscow of age-related causes. She was born September 19, 1913, on the family farm near Fairfield, Washington, to Franklin Madison Campbell and Alice Victoria Stenson Campbell. She was the youngest of eight children. When she was young her family moved to Rosalia, Washington, where she graduated from high school in 1931. Carol attended the University of Idaho where she became a student leader with high academic achievement (recognized by Phi Beta Kappa as a junior). She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, the Vandaleers choral group and Mortar Board. She graduated in 1935 with a B.A. in economics. Carol then attended Brown University for a year but returned to Rosalia to work in the family bank. She later completed the M.A. degree in economics at Brown in 1939. Carol married Malcolm M. Renfrew on June 26, 1938, at the First Presbyterian Church in Moscow. They moved to New Jersey near New York City where Malcolm was a research chemist with DuPont. In 1949, Malcolm accepted a job with General Mills as director of chemical research and they moved to Minneapolis. They moved to Buffalo, NY, in 1954, when Malcolm became the director of chemical research and development for Spencer Kellogg. In 1959, they returned to Moscow where Malcolm was named head of physical sciences and was a professor of chemistry at the University of Idaho. During World War II, Carol worked in the business office of DuPont's plastic division. Later she was employed by the University of Idaho in the early applications of computers. In 1969, Carol and Malcolm spent a year at Stanford University with the NSF-supported Advisory Council on College Chemistry. Upon their return to the University of Idaho, Malcolm was head of the chemistry department and together they participated in numerous campus activities. Carol was a member of the University of Idaho Foundation and honorary co-chair of the Campaign for Idaho. She was recipient of the Jim Lyle Volunteerism Award (1993), the University of Idaho Foundation Volunteer of the Year Award (1996), Idaho Treasure Award (1997) and the Distinguished Idahoan Award (2006). In recognition of Carol's patronage of the arts and humanities, the University of Idaho conferred upon her the Doctor of Humane Letters degree in 2006. Carol dedicated her time and talents to many community organizations including the First Presbyterian Church, the Latah Care Center Board of Directors, the Moscow-Latah County Library Board, the Latah County Historical Society, the Democratic Party, and the Gritman Hospital Board. She was a member of Pleiades Club, the oldest women's organization in Moscow. She was devoted to birds in the wild and to dogs in her home. Carol and Malcolm traveled widely, visiting all continents except the Antarctic. Carol is survived by her husband of 71 years in Moscow and by several nephews and nieces and their families. Cremation has taken place and her ashes will be interred in the Columbarium at the First Presbyterian Church in Moscow. A memorial service and reception will be held at the First Presbyterian Church at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 22, 2010, with Pastor Norman Fowler officiating. Malcolm would like to thank Dr. Kama White, Dr. Janice Boughton, and the staff of Good Samaritan for their tender loving care of Carol for the past several years. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Carol Campbell Renfrew Humanities Scholarship, c/o University of Idaho Foundation, PO Box 443147, Moscow, ID 83844-3147; the First Presbyterian Church, 405 S. Van Buren Street, Moscow, ID 83843; or a charity of one's choice. Online condolences may be left at www.shortsfuneralchapel.net SHORT'S FUNERAL CHAPEL, MOSCOW, ID