Edward "Ed" Peter Carroll

Ed was born on December 28, 1936 in Suffern, NY to Charles and Eva (Frauson) Carroll. He graduated from Suffern High School in 1954 and then went on to attend Colorado State University on a “full-ride” scholarship. He studied Civil Engineering. During his senior year, he met a CSU student from Denver named Karen Klein on a blind date. They were married on Sept. 11, 1959.

Ed moved to Denver with the intent of continuing his education and started selling cars at Vern Hagestad VW in order to save money for tuition. He discovered his love of working with people instead of numbers, and, the rest, as they say, is history! A few years later, he went to work for Intercontinental Motors, Corp., the independent importer of VW and Porsche cars In Houston, TX. As a District Sales Manager, he now called on VW and Porsche Dealerships throughout Texas and Louisiana. In 1964 Ed was surprised when he was called into the home office of Intercontinental in San Antonio—he was sure he was about to be fired. Instead he was told of a new VW dealership point that was opening in Boulder, CO and, that if he and Karen would accept it, he would be the new dealer. In 1965, Ed Carroll became the youngest VW dealer in the United States as the dealer principle of Boulder Valley Volkswagen.

Two years later, Ed and his partner were offered a second VW point in Fort Collins, CO. With the flip of a coin, it was decided that Ed would take the Fort Collins VW Dealership. He sold his 50% share in Boulder Valley Volkswagen and in 1967 became the 100% owner of Ed Carroll Volkswagen, Inc. During the 1970s the Audi and Porsche franchises were added to the business, and in 1989, Mitsubishi. By 2006, Ed had sold all of the business to his son, John. Ed Carroll VW, Porsche, Audi is celebrating its 55th year in business in Fort Collins.

Ed loved boating. As a teenager, he raced Lightning sailboats on the Hudson River. At the age of 15, Ed and a 16 year-old buddy took his 14’ open, outboard motorboat on a 600 mile trip up the Hudson River from New York City to the Canadian border and back. The next year he did it again! Throughout his life, Ed estimated that he had cruised well over 12,000 miles in small boats, mostly in Maine and along the rivers and canals of the US and Canada. Since 1980, Ed and Karen spent most summers at their home in Southwest Harbor, Maine.

Ed is preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Karen Carroll.

Ed is survived by son John (Katherine) Carroll, daughter Jennifer nee Carroll (Gregg) MacKeigan, son Pete (Rebecca) Carroll and grandchildren Amelia, Charlie, Ben, Ian, Annie, Mia, and Wyatt. Funeral services will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church on May 31 at 11:00 am.

The Carroll family would like to thank Dr. Abbey, Kathy and Barb, Dr. George, and all of the past and current caregivers who added so much to Ed’s quality of life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Pathways Hospice or Meals on Wheels. Arrangements entrusted to Allnutt Funeral Service, for information call (970) 482-3208.