Carolyn Lois Karman

Carolyn Lois Karman passed away quietly at home in the arms of her strong faith and love for her family on September 12, 2015. Carol was the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. S. Edmund Hoehn, Cleveland, Ohio, born on April 5, 1937, and married to James A. Karman for 56 years. She is also survived by her four children, Robb Thomas Karman (Tracy), Janet Ellen Cook (Craig), Edward John Karman (Ellen), Christopher James Karman (Nancy), and grandchildren Dylan Karman, Danielle Karman, Beatrice Cook, Madelyn Cook, James Cook, Kallie Karman, Kara Karman, Allison Karman, Elizabeth (Libby) Karman, Samuel Karman, and Julia Karman. She was the oldest of six brothers and sisters Robert, Janet (Sippey), Martha (Exoo), Richard, and Ronald. Carol graduated from Lakewood (Ohio) High School and Miami University, Oxford, Ohio where she was an education major, was vice president of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, and met her husband, Jim. Following her graduation, Carol taught at the University of Wisconsin-affilliated Randall School in Madison while her husband earned a Master of Business Administration degree and taught at the University. The Karmans then located to Grand Rapids, Michigan where Carol taught special education (hearing impaired students) in the Grand Rapids School District – a very challenging and difficult position, in which she was highly regarded, and appreciated by, the parents of her students and her fellow teachers. Carol then moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1963 when Jim joined Republic Powdered Metals (now RPM International, Inc.) as Assistant to the President, and later becoming a member of the Board of Directors, President, and Vice Chairman. During the forty years Carol lived in the Cleveland area she was very active in many volunteer organizations, a member of St. Peter's Church, Trinity Cathedral (Episcopal), Christ Church in Hudson, and a member of the Country Club of Hudson, Mayfield Country Club, The Union Club, the Cleveland Yachting Club, the Playhouse Club and the Pine Lake Trout Club, until she and her husband retired to Palm Beach, FL in 2003. The Karmans were veteran world-wide travelers, having extensively traveled in over 65 countries – some being very difficult communist controlled countries (Viet Nam, China, Hungary, East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania and Bulgaria) throughout which they traveled on their own. In Palm Beach Carol was very active in many organizations including being a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, and a former member of Bethesda by the Sea Episcopal Church where she was active in the Altar Guild and the Intercessory Prayer Group. She was a member of the Everglades Club and the Sailfish Club, and a former member of the Palm Beach Yacht Club, and the Society of the Four Arts. A memorial service honoring Carol's life will be held at 11:00am on Friday September 18 at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Lakewood, Ohio with Rev. G. Keith Owen II officiating, and with burial in Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland. Those wishing to honor Carol's memory and life are asked to contribute to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123, or online, in her name. Arrangements made by BUSCH FUNERAL HOME, 21369 Center Ridge Rd., Fairview Park. 440-333-9774 www.buschcares.com