Caroline Reutter

1951 - 2017

Caroline Ragsdale Reutter, 66, died July 15, 2017 in Houston, TX. Caroline was the founder and president of Caroline's Cakes, the thriving online bakery she started while living in Maryland and brought to Spartanburg, opening here in 2012. Caroline always said that she was defined by her business and her family. "Team Caroline," the group of devoted close friends who enjoyed her energetic and vivacious style and who stood by her in her final illness, said Caroline did not sell cakes, she connected with and nurtured the people with whom she came in contact. She was incredibly generous, both professionally and personally. She made friends with bus boys and maids and big stars in Hollywood and all in between. Composer/Conductor Marvin Hamlisch insisted Caroline's Cakes were so unique and delicious that they could be the secret to world peace. She founded her bakery business in 1982, specializing in the hard-to-create Southern delicacy, the seven-layer caramel cake. Through her energetic entrepreneurship Caroline's signature caramel cake was featured in the hit movie The Help. Caroline was always thinking of how to make things better in her business and in the lives of others. She loved to work and did so all hours of the day and night no matter where she was. Her sharp business acumen had a laser focus and her bubbling creativity resulted in her invention of new processes and equipment to improve her business. Caroline was a whirlwind with the constant desire to take the business "to the next layer." Her sons now run the business started by their mother from the bakery Caroline built in Spartanburg. Born March 13, 1951 in Charleston, she was the daughter of Carol Schall Ragsdale and the late Thomas Smith Ragsdale, Jr., Caroline grew up in Lake City. She was educated at Ashley Hall and Mount Vernon College. She was the beloved wife of Charles Ernest "Chick" Reutter, III. In addition, she is survived by her two sons, Charles Ernest Reutter, IV and Richard Ragsdale Reutter and his wife Eleanor Cole Boyle, all of Spartanburg; and two brothers, Thomas Smith Ragsdale III and his wife, Suzy, and Charles Schall Ragsdale and his wife, Emily, both of Georgetown. Gifts in honor of Caroline may be made to M.D. Anderson Gynecological Oncology Center, 1515 Holcomb Boulevard, Unit 1491, Houston, TX 77030-4000, the Gibbs Cancer Center, 101 Wood Street, Spartanburg, SC 29303; or to the charity of one's choice. The family is deeply grateful to both hospitals for the professional and devoted care given to Caroline. The Rev. Edward Morris will conduct the funeral service on Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 1:00 pm at the Episcopal Church of the Advent. Following the service, the family and friends will celebrate Caroline's life at the Piedmont Club.