Caroline Estes Sproule

1926 - 2025

Caroline Estes Sproule

November 29, 1926 - January 7, 2025

Raleigh, North Carolina - Caroline Brown Estes Sproule (née Estes), age 98, of Mountain Brook, Alabama, passed away peacefully Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at Springmoor Retirement Community in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her family was able to enjoy her delightful giggle and signature sway to her beloved big band music into her final days.

Raised in Mountain Brook by her father Thomas Gray Estes and mother Elizabeth Croom Smith Estes, Caroline attended Duke University where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and met the love of her life Charles "Charlie" Sproule, Jr. In 1948, Caroline and Charlie wed, the beginning of 70 very happy years together, and settled in Wayne, Pennsylvania where they raised their children, Elizabeth "Libby" Mitchiner and Charles "Gerry" Sproule, III. Caroline was known for creating custom centerpieces for church and community celebrations and she and Charlie fostered a dear group of friends who played in a bridge club and took spirited group trips to various Caribbean islands.

In 1988, they retired to St. Michaels, Maryland to a custom-built house on the bay designed to host extended family. Multiple generations made wonderful memories at "Lac Beg," taking boat rides, fishing, and playing games at their annual Fourth of July celebrations. Caroline's (or "Grammas" as she was lovingly called) crab dip was unsurpassed and often made with crabs caught off her dock that she hand-picked.

When not hosting family, Caroline remained active providing flowers and maintaining the food pantry at her church and volunteered at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.

Surviving are Libby (husband Joseph) and Gary (late wife Deborah); grandchildren Lauryn Williams (husband Blake), Nathan Mitchiner (wife Amy), Charles Sproule IV, and Courtney Sproule; great grandchildren Jaidyn Mitchiner and Carter and Kate Williams.

The family would like to extend special thanks to the stellar and hardworking staff at Springmoor's Healthcare Center who kept Caroline comfortable, healthy, and laughing into her last days.

A memorial will be held at the Springmoor Auditorium (1500 Sawmill Road, Raleigh) on Friday, February 7th at 3pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Springmoor Endowment Fund (919-848-7388; www.springmoor.org/a-welcoming-community/endowment-fund) or Samaritan's Purse (Samaritan's Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607; www.samaritanspurse.org).