Carole J. Fraley

Carole J. Fraley, 74, of Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away on June 5, 2024. She was born on December 12, 1949, in Huntington, Indiana, to parents, Charles Meyer and Joan (Strodel) Meyer.  

On May 10, 1996, in Wabash, Indiana, Carole married her love, Ronald Fraley, sharing a dedicated 28 years together.  

Carole's legacy is deeply intertwined with her profound commitment to nursing and military service. Her illustrious career began at Wabash Community Hospital where she worked for 20 years, most of those as head of the cardiac rehabilitation unit. Once her kids graduated high school, she expanded her own education and obtained her Certification as Nurse Practitioner for Family and Pediatrics. While working full time she served 20 years in the Army Nurse Corps, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Her passion for caregiving was evident in every life she touched throughout her five decades of service. 

Carole readily gave her weekends off to travel with the Joint Medical Readiness Command to multiple reserve and active-duty medical units to teach the Emergency Nurses Association’s, Trauma Nurse Core Course, and the American Burn Association’s Advanced Burn Live Support course. This travel included military hospitals on three continents.  

One of Carole's proudest accomplishments was being awarded The Yellow Rose of Texas, which is an honorary commission recognizing outstanding Texas women for significant contributions to their communities and to Texas through community service in the preservation of history, the accomplishments of present, and the building of future. 

Outside of her professional endeavors, Carole was devoted to her family, she gave unconditional love and support to her family, children and friends. She never missed a sporting event, recital or concert. She made sure her children participated in any activity they desired even when they didn't realize it themselves. She went as far as serving as cheer coach when the high school was in desperate need. Her grandkids meant everything, and she fed their passions with gifts and thoroughly enjoyed their yearly adventures together. Carole found solace in the pages of books and the aisles of shopping centers. Her love for reading enriched her life with knowledge and stories, while shopping brought her simple joys and treasures that she cherished. Carole thoroughly enjoyed traveling and new adventures. She and Ron managed to visit all 50 states, 5 continents, with adventures above the Artic Circle and in the Southern Hemisphere. Her favorite adventure was two weeks in Africa, with daily photo-safaris.  

Carole is survived by her loving husband, Ronald Fraley; children, Steffanie Rhinesmith, Andrew Carter, David Fraley, Kendall Early and Scott Fraley; 13 grandchildren; and 1 great-grandchild.  

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Steve Meyer. 

Visitation for Carole will be from 2:00pm-4:30pm on Monday, June 10, 2024, at Flanner Buchanan – Oaklawn Memorial Gardens (Conner Suite) – 9700 Allisonville Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46250, with a funeral service immediately following at 4:30pm. The burial will take place later at Arlington National Cemetery.  

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests for memorial contributions in her name may be made to Indiana Blind Children’s Foundation (7725 N. College Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46240).