Carola Ann Teugh

Carola Ann (Wallace) Teugh passed away peacefully in her home November 13, 2023, at the age of 86 after a difficult battle with dementia. She was born February 5, 1937, in Elgin, Illinois, to Lawrence B. and Marjorie M. (Ziegler) Wallace. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her two younger siblings, Douglas A. Wallace of Iowa City, Iowa, and Priscilla M. Peters of Hamilton, Montana.

After 62 years of marriage, she is survived by her husband, David H. Teugh (Dave), her daughter Patricia T. Foster (partner Clyde Boyd), her son and daughter-in-law Douglas A. and Christine A. Teugh, and her grandchildren David A. Teugh (partner Victoria Webster) and Catherine A. Teugh. She is also survived by her older brother, Rodney L. Wallace of Athens, Greece; in-laws Mary Katherine Wallace, Richard Peters, Richard Teugh, Judie Bialik, and Evie (Jerry) Burton; in addition to cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 2nd, 2023, at 2 pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1515 Helen Street, Portage MI 49002, with a reception to follow. Visitation will be held at the church from 1 to 2 pm prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorial contributions be given to Park Place Senior Living, 4222 S. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008, in grateful recognition of the love and care they gave to Carol and continue to give to Dave.

Although Carol was born at a time and to a family that had specific expectations for women, she managed to take her own path. A gifted musician, she began piano lessons at the age of 4 and continued to play throughout her life. Starting at fifteen, she earned spending money as the pianist for a ballet school. She also studied pipe organ in high school and college and served as the organist for several churches. She sang in choirs as a child and lent her beautiful alto voice and perfect pitch to many ensembles.

She graduated from Elgin High School in 1955 and from Manchester College, North Manchester, Indiana in 1959, with a degree in elementary education. Stepping far outside her comfort zone, she spent one summer as a camp counselor in New Hampshire for inner-city youth from New York City. She also sang and toured with the Manchester College Choir for all four years.

Continuing to blaze her own trail, when many of her friends were marrying and/or taking teaching positions near their homes, she chose to move to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where she had no acquaintances, and embarked on a teaching career. Her time as a camp counselor served her well, as she wholeheartedly embraced her role as an educator at Northglade Elementary. When Kalamazoo started one of the first public special education classes in Michigan, Carol became a special education teacher, at which she excelled and mentored those who followed in her footsteps.

In 1960, through mutual friends, she met Dave, who was fresh out of four years in the Marine Corps and had returned to his hometown to study physics at Western Michigan University. They married on July 1st, 1961, and she supported them while he finished his degree (another unusual choice at that time).

In 1964, when Carol was pregnant with their daughter, Dave graduated from Western and they moved to Midland for his new job with The Dow Chemical Company. Although Midland was not always her favorite place, she made a home there for them and their son who was born in 1966. Though she never returned to full-time teaching, she was always involved in activities that benefited the community. She evaluated children for kindergarten readiness, served as room mother, and was a Bluebird pack leader, Art In The Schools presenter, and musical accompanist.

She found another true calling when she overcame a life-long fear of the water and learned to swim. Not only did she swim for exercise for many years, she became a lifeguard and then a water safety instructor who specialized in teaching other frightened adults to become strong swimmers, and an instructor of other instructors.

When Pat and Doug were grown, in 1988 Dave and Carol moved to Houston, Texas, for Dave’s job. There, Carol became an avid American Red Cross volunteer. During the Midland floods of 1986, she assisted at the local level and become familiar with the work of the Red Cross. In Houston, she not only assisted those impacted by local disasters, but she became a national trained volunteer and responded to numerous disasters, including the Loma Prieta earthquake in California, the Des Moines flood in Iowa and hurricanes in Florida and Louisiana.

In 1995, Dave and Carol left Texas and retired to Michigan - another unusual path. They settled in Portage to enjoy retirement living. Carol joined the Kalamazoo Symphony League and participated in instrument “petting zoos” at elementary schools, frequently the first exposure children had to the various orchestra instruments. She and Dave had season tickets to the symphony for many years and hosted visiting musicians in their home. They delivered Meals on Wheels. As a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, she sang in the choir and served as an elder.

Carol will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

While visiting Carol’s webpage at www.amsfuneralhomes.com please sign the guestbook and/or share a memory with the family. The family is being assisted by Avink, McCowen & Secord Funeral Home; 5975 Lovers Lane in Portage (269)344-5600.