Carolyn Sulzer Redinger Peterson, 83, passed away on Thursday, November
25, 2021, at the Smith County Memorial Hospital in Smith Center, Kansas.
Vera Carolyn Sulzer, 7th child of Joseph Arthur and Mamie Esther
Turner was born July 11, 1938, at the family home near Cale, Arkansas.
Late in 1938 the family moved to northeast Louisiana and remained
there until 1952 when Carolyn and her parents moved to Conway County,
Arkansas. Carolyn attended grade school and junior high at Oak Ridge, LA
and graduated from Wonderview High School, Conway County, AR.
Carolyn learned to love books and reading at an early age-a love
that continued all her life. During her junior-high, Carolyn decided
that she would like to be a teacher. Determined to reach that goal, she
attended Bethany Nazarene College (now Southern Nazarene Univ.), even
though she had to work more than one job at a time to pay her expenses.
It could be said that Carolyn’s teaching career began while she was
in high school when she taught a class of younger children in Sunday
School. Her Sunday school work continued during her college days and on
until later years. At one time or another, Carolyn taught all ages in
Sunday school and Bible school, and, she directed the children’s church
for several years.
Carolyn’s professional career began at Agra, KS after graduation
from Bethany Nazarene College in 1962 with a major in history. Her first
assignment was all subjects for 6th and 7th grades. Year-by-year, her
class assignments changed until she was teaching high school history or
English duties with the junior high and with some time in the library.
Carolyn and Ted Glen Redinger were married May 30, 1963, at
Kensington, KS and continued to live in Agra until 1973 when Carolyn was
hired as full-time librarian at the Smith Center Jr-Sr High School.
Carolyn continued as librarian until her retirement in 2000. Ted passed
away in 1994.
Raised in a home that taught and lived a personal relationship with
Christ, Carolyn accepted Christ as her Savior in 1953. However, as a
young adult Carolyn did not hold true to her convictions, but, in 1981
she rededicated her life to Christ and in January, 1982 became a member
of the Smith Center Nazarene Church.
Psalm 40:1-3a
I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and
heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and
the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked
along.
He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God.
Carolyn participated in the church in many ways: Sunday school and
vacation Bible school teacher; children’s church director; choir member;
special music participant; and as church treasurer.
On April 7, 2001, Carolyn and Donald Lee Peterson were married in
Smith Center. Carolyn and Ted had no children, but now Carolyn was given
a large and growing family. The Peterson children became very special
friends of Carolyn’s and she dearly loved them all. As the
greatgrandchildren came along, she enjoyed making quilts for each of the
little ones.
Carolyn started researching her family history and she discovered
she had a Revolutionary War Patriot in Peter David. She was accepted as a
member of the DAR on October 9, 2010. She was currently serving as the
Regent of the Sarah Steward DAR Chapter.
Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents; an infant brother,
Jame Alfred; brothers, Travis, Jesse, Howard and Cyrus; sister, Juanita
Bethany; a nephew James Albert and two nieces: Barbara Nell Sulzer and
Margaret Bethany Rebmann and by her husbands, Ted Redinger and Donald
Peterson.
Survivors include her step-children: Tony and wife Coralee; Terry
and wife Sally; Connie and husband Bruce Jacobs; Curtis and wife Martha;
Brenda McCrary; daughter-in-law, Diane Peterson; sister in law Betty
Sulzer of Ollala, WA 18 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; nieces;
nephews; and a host of friends.
Click HERE for service details.