Carol Elizabeth Walker's Obituary
As we all closed our eyes on Tuesday March 18, 2025, so too did Carol Elizabeth Walker for her final sleep. It was 10:10pm when she reunited with her loving, late husband, Paul. She passed away peacefully in bed at Grossmont Gardens Care Facility at the age of 85, two and a half years after a pair of strokes would leave her needing constant care.
Carol was born with the New Year on January 1, 1940 to Michael James Kleman and Hazel Bernice Deter in Rahway, New Jersey under the surname Kleman. She was the first baby of the year welcomed in her city! At the age of six, Carol and her family moved from New Jersey to San Diego, California, where she happily resided the remainder of her life.
She had an aura that positively radiated supportive generosity and unwavering compassion. One word to easily encompass all that she exemplified: selfless. If you ever asked a favor of her, she dropped everything to complete it tenfold – adding all sorts of bells and whistles that weren’t likely thought of, much less expected. If you ever so much as hinted at needing or wanting anything (no matter how big or small), you’d better believe that an Amazon box would be arriving at your door the very next day. She made it a priority to ensure everyone felt loved and welcome in her presence and in her home, yet there was so much more depth to her besides just kindness. The woman had impressive quick wit and the endless sass of a still-young girl. Her quips and one-liners are still often echoed as family and friends laugh and reminisce.
Carol’s career was devoted to the finance and education industries. Right out of high school, she spent the first few years of her career at San Diego Teachers Credit Union (now known as California Coast Credit Union). She then went to work for the community college district where she became the first person to hold an accounting position without having a college degree – something she was very proud of (and rightfully so!). She returned to the credit union where she finished out her career holding the titles of Senior Vice President: Administrative Services, and Chief Financial Officer, totaling more than forty years in the finance and accounting field collectively.
She was a hard worker who never seemed to take a breather. The entirety of her life, Carol was dedicated to giving back within her community by routinely volunteering with organizations such as Meals on Wheels, the Alpine Women’s Club, and the Historical Society. She also tried to help anywhere she could in a variety of ways; knitting hats for newborns in NICUs nationwide, crocheting nest warmers for rescued baby birds, and donating to every charity she came across.
All the while, Carol was a devoted wife and mother of five, and it was always evident that family was her top priority. She was the enthusiastic leader of her kids’ Cub Scouts and Camp Fire Girls troops, and a terrific mentor in all aspects, as patient as they come! When grandkids came along, she managed to guarantee that each visit was unique, planning out new activities to teach them including crafting ornaments, making candles, knitting, decorating cakes, and so much more. She thought of every detail to ensure everyone’s happiness, even if it meant lugging a 4 foot whiteboard to a camping trip just because the kids wanted to draw in the woods. Carol enjoyed many other hobbies like traveling, reading, and gardening (her backyard was a certified wildlife habitat, immaculately manicured and regularly visited by critters). Cooking was a lifelong passion; family and friends alike could often be found gathering at her house to enjoy the tastiest meals, not only for big holidays (like the best Thanksgiving you’ll ever have), but also just because it was a random Sunday, so, why not! She was a living spell-check and not a single typo would get past her in any book, menu, or even movie subtitle (she would have positively cackled to see how much autocorrect went into writing this). Alongside her husband, Carol was never absent from a sporting event, always cheering on her kids and grands with vigor.
Carol is survived by her 5 children, Paul Jr., Wendee, Pam, Mark, and Natalie, 10 grandkids, and 5 great grandchildren. She also leaves behind her sister, Myrna, a large extended family, some lifelong friends, and 2 cats. She will be sorely missed by all as she reunites with her husband, Earl Paul Walker Sr., her parents, brother Jim, and many beloved pets. To have known and loved such a caring and dedicated woman has been the greatest privilege, and her significance in this world will not be soon forgotten by any who have crossed paths with her.
The hardest thing to do is to put your life to paper and pretend that it is anywhere close to enough. Knowing we won’t be able to share any updates with you, nor have our silly banter anymore is truly one of the worst feelings. We hope you know exactly how important and so very loved you are, and how tremendously we miss you!
What’s your fondest memory of Carol?
What’s a lesson you learned from Carol?
Share a story where Carol's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Carol you’ll never forget.
How did Carol make you smile?
