Carol & Don, 1984
Carol Ann grew up in Kansas City, KS, and moved to Roswell, NM, in 1948. Her dad had been a motorcycle policeman in Kansas City and was developing arthritis following a motorcycle accident. The family moved to a warmer climate and operated a small diner for a while. After graduating from high school in Roswell, Carol Ann went to Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM, majoring in education. There she met and married Gene Whitlock.
Carol Ann started teaching in Pojoaque, NM, north of Santa Fe, in about 1966. In 1972 she and Gene divorced and Carol Ann raised two children while teaching in Santa Fe and commuting to Highlands University, about 85 miles away, working for her masters degree. We met at a square dance in Santa Fe and were married a year later. She was an assistant principal at Santa Fe High School and retired from that position in 1992; she continues being very active in educational associations: PEO and PDK. Carol's primary hobbies are sewing, quilting and cross-stitching. As a couple we camped, canoed, photographed wild flowers and built a house together. Actually it was in reverse order to that; we built the house together while dating; we worked so well on that project we decided to get married!
She was the best square dancer I had known, had a pleasant disposition, was pretty and intelligent. Carol Ann was sweet, but could be the master of a situation also. I remember just after getting married when she asked me to come to a football game after school and meet some of the faculty. As I walked onto the field she (at 5'2") was talking to a 6'2" 9th grader. I heard him say "Ain't you a little old for that, granny?"; to which I gulped and thought "Oh, my!" She quietly looked him in the eye and said, "Do you want to try me?"; I really gulped at that. Then he shyly replied, "No, maam." Again I gulped, this time wondering what I had gotten into in this marriage! It turns out to be the best marriage I could have asked for; and I say that after 17 years with her!
Carol is always busy doing something. She is an invaluable help in the genealogy of my family line. At one time we had about four notebooks of data on the line, she would read the disorganized notes while I typed in the data (I can't read). When not working on genealogy with me she would be working on her sewing, cleaning, working on something from her many education related groups she belongs to. Carol always has a very positive, happy disposition, enjoying anything she does, and everyone enjoys having her part of any activity.
Her favorite pasttimes are her grandchildren whenever she can get up to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, where they live. She enjoys her stained-glass angle collection, and her collection of teddy-bears. And...she is one of the most valuable members of our hot air balloon chase crew; always calm and on top of things. She loves the mental challenge of the chase, as well as the physical demands of the activity. She even likes to fly in the dern things! (smile) Together we have chased for about 10 years in the Santa Fe and Albuquerque ares, attending at least seven of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiestas. At those events her photography interest has been exercised to the fullest; we probably have 300 photos taken over the years.
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