Carol Whitcraft Fredericks

Carol Jones Whitcraft Fredericks passed away on Feb. 28 at home with her family. Known for her mentorship, philanthropy, keen intelligence and warm wit, Carol inspired young and old alike with her motto: “Have fun every day.”

A long-time supporter of women’s rights, social justice, and higher education, Carol received her Master’s and Doctorate Degrees at the University of Texas. In 1971, she joined the Texas Rehabilitation Commission as Director of Research and Development, becoming the first Mary Switzer Fellow of the National Rehabilitation Association.

In 1984, Governor Mark White appointed Carol to his advisory committee for the Governor’s Executive Development Program, and later named her the first woman Admiral in the Texas Navy. She also served as executive assistant commissioner of the Texas Rehabilitation Commission.

In 1985 Carol’s husband of 37 years, Franklin Pierce (Chris) Whitcraft III – financial editor of The Austin American Statesman - passed away. While attending a Yale University alumni meeting for the class of ‘35, Carol met Samuel H. Fredericks of Lock Haven, PA , whom she married in 1991.

Over the next decade, Carol and Sam became the largest philanthropic donors to Lock Haven University, contributing the Fredericks Family Library Tower, Guest House, and the 47-bell Memorial Carillon.

After Sam’s death in 1999, Carol lived in Austin full-time. In 2010 she was honored with the Robbie and Tom Ausley Leadership Award from Planned Parenthood. She was also on the Board of Visitors of McDonald Observatory.

Daughter of the late George O. Jones and Gladys Skeels Jones, Carol is survived by her daughters Helen Whitcraft and Virginia (Teri) Whitcraft; grandson Colemar Nichols (Carley); granddaughter Sarah Nichols Wanek (Jeffrey); and great-grandchildren Chloe and Deklan Wanek, Ansel Nichols, as well as honorary grandson John Stanley (Megan), and their sons Gray and Cole. In addition to her husbands, Carol was predeceased by her son Jeff.

Arrangements are being handled by Cook-Walden Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, Carol requested donations to Planned Parenthood of Austin, Austin SafePlace, Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC), and other direct service charitable groups of choice.

Dear Friends-

On this Memorial Day - as we honor those who gave their lives for our freedom - we also remember a remarkable woman who touched so many lives: Dr. Carol Whitcraft Fredericks.

On May 8th, Carol’s dearest friends and family gathered at Chez Zee Bistro in Austin for a champagne party (per Carol’s last wishes). “ABSOLUTELY NO GRIEVING” she wrote in a Doomsday letter to her daughters. “I’ve had a wonderful life and I’m not afraid to leave it.”

Over 70 people came in person and dozens more zoomed in to share memories and toast Carol’s wonderful life. After 93 years, there was a lot to say (so the program ran a bit long), but tears, laughter and champagne flowed till the very end.

The service was in two parts:

The Memorial - Part I (to honor Carol’s spiritual life)

The Celebration - Part II (to celebrate Carol’s spirit).

In case you missed it, want to share it with friends, or just have it for yourself, below are links to both the Memorial and the Celebration. Also below - links to Carol’s spirited acceptance speech for the Planned Parenthood Leadership Award in 2010…and the hour-long Story Corps interview she and Teri recorded on October 7, 2014 in New York.

Also there’s a link to the annotated program with time codes- so you can fast forward to a specific talk or presentation.

Our fondest hope is that this video will help keep Carol’s legacy alive for generations to come. (Note: please don’t feel obligated to watch it - as we know everyone’s busy. Also please don’t post the video, as some of the songs were not licensed for broader distribution.)

A million thanks to each of you for helping honor Carol’s memory. We miss her, we love her, and we will continue to follow her in her footsteps to “Have fun every day!”

With deep thanks and all our love,

Teri and Helen Whitcraft

Here’s the annotated program with time codes - Parts I and II:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/1-AK7PJi5gHOxw_UippAaWimXfvXjj1X0/edit?usp=docslist_api&filetype=msword

Video link to The Memorial - Part 1 (45 minutes)

https://vimeo.com/553705643

Video link to The Celebration - Part II (1 hour 27 minutes)

https://vimeo.com/553041662

Links to Carol In Her Own Words

Carol Fredericks Planned Parenthood Award Speech (video)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pmVTij73Tjc

Carol Fredericks StoryCorps Interview (audio only)

https://archive.storycorps.org/interviews/lmn003261/

Enjoy!

PS- A special thanks to Ron Zimmerman of Zimmerman & Associates, who shot, edited and produced this video over the last few weeks as a labor of Iove in honor of Carol.