Carl Richard Krabill

June 23, 1930 - February 27, 2018

Raleigh

Carl Krabill, 87, died February 27, 2018. He lived a vibrant, colorful life as a husband, dad, grandfather, artist, teacher, athlete and car lover.

He was born in East Canton, Ohio in 1930. He has degrees from Mount Union College, the Art Center College of Design and Kent State University. He spent 25 years as an art teacher in the Shaker Heights School System teaching hundreds of young people to find beauty in color and art.

After he retired from teaching in 1985, he began painting full-time. He was a successful artist and has paintings in corporations, hospitals, galleries and private homes throughout the United States. Traveling extensively, he has captured the landscapes of Maine, Nantucket, Raleigh, England (Yorkshire and Devon), France, and Holland as subjects for paintings.

He leaves behind his wife, Irene, of 61 years along with his children Keith, Vanessa and Kerry and his sister Carolyn Huntsberger, along with family in the US and England. He will be missed by six grandsons Ian, Devon, Trevor, Reece, Jaden and Jeremy.

There will be a memorial service at a later date in Ohio. Condolences: RFHR.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The News and Observer on Mar. 3, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Carl Krabill

Sponsored by Renaissance Funeral Home.

27 Entries

jiro montfort

March 4, 2024

i met mr. krabill in art class in 1972...i was 14.....he talked to me about weight lifting everyday....he loved it....i'm 66 now and i still weight lift....amongst other things like jogging.....he was always upbeat and full of energy.....and a great motivator......i have a lot of great memories of our time in class and around the school......great man.....i'm fortunate to have known him.....

Jiro montfort

March 20, 2022

Great teacher and person who motivated me in art and connected with me through weight lifting which I still do today, he got me started in this hobby 50 yrs ago and I still love it.....thanks mr. Krabill

Mary Christine Anderson

February 26, 2021

Mr. Krabill was one of the best teachers I ever had. He treated each of us as if we were important and he listened to what we had to say. Almost no one takes middle-schoolers seriously, but he did. I have taught for forty years, and my teaching is modeled on his in many ways.

Kristina Scott

February 25, 2021

He was a great teacher and directed a play that I was in while in 7th grade at Woodbury. I feel that he used the whole class because I would have never tried out...too shy and timid. He made us all feel great..like we had an important part. I was the shoe and sock taker offer and putter oner. All set to wonderful music. So creative. He turned me on to Dave Brubach's "Take Five" and it's been on my playlist ever since. I am now 66 years old. He influenced me greatly. What a fantastic person!

Patty Brill Harbison

June 1, 2018

Mr. Krabill was one of the teachers who changed my life, by helping me see the possibilities outside my dysfunctional family of origin. I giggle every time I think about "The Stars Are Made of Lettuce," the "happening" play he directed. My role was to lie on the stage & sob uncontrollably, while pieces of lettuce floated down on to me from the heavens. Unfortunately the lettuce wilted between dress rehearsal and the performance, so the leaves just splatted down on me and stuck to my clothes. ART!

Kathy Stinson Klein

May 23, 2018

I had the pleasure of having Mr. Krabill as an art teacher at Woodbury Junior High School in Shaker Heights. It was one of the most formative experiences of my life. He introduced us to so many different media & different techniques, but what I valued most were the hours he allowed many of us to participate in extended art projects after school had officially ended for the day. We became "regulars" and were treated as adults whose ideas were respected and challenged as he pushed us to be better at whatever work in which we were engaged. He taught us that through hard work, creativity, experimentation, and sometimes serendipity, whatever we envisioned could come to fruition. As a lfelong educator, I remember him as an aspirational model for the type of teacher I hope to have been for my own students. He was a wonderful painter, but an even better human being.

Susan Wheeler

March 21, 2018

Oh so sad, Carl Krabill was larger than life. It's hard to believe he is gone. He made a tremendous impact in his life - as an educator and a friend to so many. Susan Downie Wheeler

Kristina Scott

March 21, 2018

Mr. Krabill gave me a role in a play, (my first ever), as a sock and shoe on-and-off taker. It was a time in my life when I was very shy and I remember feeling so special because I had this part--non speaking, which was perfect for me. He also introduced me to the jazz song "Take Five" because he used it in the play. I will forever be grateful. I went on to become a French teacher because I also loved the arts so much. I have "Take five" on my playlist to this day.

Debora Trigg

March 14, 2018

Wonderful teacher, made art fun for me. Taught me abstract art and gave me the confidence to do a project even without a lot of talent.

Marc Fisher

March 12, 2018

Really a nice guy and made learning fun. he is one of the teachers i still remember as a favorite. He used to work in the cafeteria at noon running the cash register. For some reason I still remember him doing this.

Evie Barton

March 11, 2018

Unfortunately I never got to have him as an art teacher, but my sister did and loved him. I DO remember this amazing theater piece he put together, with several students on stage doing surrealistic things to music. His photographs were superimposed over that. Even after all these years (50) I remember it distinctly, along with my regret that I hadn't been lucky enough to have gotten to work with him.

My condolences to his family, and kudos to you, Carl, on a life well-lived!

Evie Hoffmann Barton

Jackie Selesnick Lopeck

March 11, 2018

one of my favorite teachers. so creative and inspiring. Condolences to the Family.

Jay Bomberg

March 11, 2018

I, too, was a student of Mr. Krabill and a neighbor on Ludlow Road. In the arts, no other teacher left as lasting an impression on me as he did. My appreciation for architecture and abstract art comes directly from his influence on me. I especially remember an "op-art" project, and reflect back on his memory, even now, when I see an especially beautifully designed building. He brought out the creativity in me, and for that I will be eternally grateful.

Christine Anderson

March 11, 2018

Mr. Krabill was one of the teachers who had the greatest impact on me. He took young people and art seriously, and I am grateful to have been a student with him.

Jeff Kramer

March 11, 2018

Mr. Krabill was a terrific teacher whose innovative presence in the classroom and around the school in activities, such as the training room, was inspiring to many of us students. Just as important was his positive influence as a role model for all, one of many we were fortunate enough to have as Woodbury Junior High students in the Shaker schools, like Ralph Tinianow and Salvatore Fabrizio, to name a couple more. His memory is secure with us all. May he rest in peace with all the good souls.

Lora Walters (badler)

March 11, 2018

Mr. Krabill influenced me more than any other teacher. I still remember how patient and caring he was. I babysat for his kids to and recall the wall for the kids to color..... i am still impressed by his sense of creativity. What a great teacher!

March 10, 2018

Our shared condolences to the Krabill family.
We understand the positive impact and influence an art educator like Mr. Krabill can have on many individuals. Mr. Krabill helped build the strong Shaker City Schools art program in which we continue to maintain and grow.
Peace to your family during this time.

-Shaker Heights City Schools Art Teachers

March 10, 2018

Mr. Krabill was an amazing teacher! I had him for art at Woodbury Middle School. I was also in the school productions he created. He was always working out with my favorite coaches and was a great role model.

laurel hecht

March 10, 2018

A most inspiring teacher and artist. I loved seeing him a few years back when he had an art show at ArtNeo. I always felt that he was genuine and that is most important to share with the world.

Jim Newman

March 10, 2018

Disgusted with my painting in Mr. Krabill's art class at Woodbury, I took a wet piece of brown paper towel and began blotting in blue and grey wet background. Mr. Krabill looked over my shoulder and said: "That's it! That's what it needs! Don't be afraid to ruin it!"

What a valuable lesson for an 8th grader from a great teacher .. and typical of Mr. Krabill's bold spirit, which pervaded the school for months with anticipation of his semi-secretive production of the multimedia extravaganza light show T.S.A.M.O.L.

May his memory be a blessing.

Jeff Greenham

March 10, 2018

My condolences to the Krabill family.

I was able to visit Carl briefly many years ago during his exhibit at the Gloria Plevin Galley in Chautauqua NY.

As a full time artist and educator he was clearly an influence for me as I know he was for so many of his students.

Jeff Greenham, Associate Dean
Art Department Coordinator
Fairmont State University, WV

Jerry Tinianow

March 9, 2018

My father, Ralph Tinianow, was on the faculty of Woodbury Jr. High School with Carl. My parents were friends with the Krabills, dating to when they first met in 1961. We used to go over to their house and enjoyed playing with their kids, who were our ages. They were a very cool family - every one of them. My condolences to them all. If my parents were still alive they would join me in mourning Carl's passing.

Ronnie Davis

March 9, 2018

What a great teacher indeed. I was his student at Woodbury. He was so ahead of his time in many ways. I never forgot him playing his reel to reel tape deck and listen to the Beatles Yellow Submarine. RIP
Ronnie Davis

Jeff Benes

March 9, 2018

I had Mr. Krabill for art at Woodbury J.H. and also for after school weight training throughout my Woodbury years. He was perhaps my favorite teacher. As my weight training coach, he was very inspiring and motivating. I learned a great deal of how to train from him. I remember him showing us pictures of himself prior to his transformation, when he was still drinking and smoking. Unrecognizable.

Mr. Krabill made art class enjoyable by always having music playing --anything from the Beatles to Dolly Parton. He also allowed us to think "out of the box" and not be confined by traditional way.

Physical fitness has been very important in my life, and I owe that passion to two people . . .my dad, and Mr. Krabill. Thank you. I will miss you Mr. Krabill.

March 9, 2018

Vanessa, I was saddened to read that you lost your Dad. How lucky you are that you had him for your father.
Warmly from Nancy Falkner
(Customer Frames Unlimited)

Karen Hairston-Franzel

March 9, 2018

Mr. Krabill was a very inspiring teacher and member of the Ludlow community. He was innovative, creative, and kind. I really liked getting to know his daughter Kerry in elementary, and I enjoyed his art class at Shaker. Best regards to his family.Karen Hairston Franzel, JD (Shaker '85)Keswick Road, Shaker Hts, OH Orlando, FL

Debby Krejsa

March 9, 2018

So sorry to read this. I grew up on Ludlow Road down the street from your home. Carl was my art teacher at Woodbury and helped me hone my craft in my early years. I grew up to be an artist, graphic designer and potter and have often thought of him and his teachings throughout the years. Prayers and love to all his family.

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