Alan Eugene Carolus

Alan was born on February 6, 1939, to the late Raymond and Louisa Carolus in Albany, NY, where he spent his formative years with his brother and two sisters.

Alan was 16 when he first laid eyes on Doris McKerrow, and he knew she was it for the rest of his life. They were married on October 15, 1960, and settled in Freedom, NY, where they raised four sons.

Alan worked at what was first Motorola and then Prestolite Electric in Arcade, NY as a tool and die maker for a combined 47 years. He loved a routine – it took two tries for retirement to stick. For as many years as health allowed, Alan and Doris enjoyed sharing their beloved home with family, friends, and visitors from around the world. Upon Doris’ passing in 2016, Alan moved to Indiana to be closer to two of his sons.

In his free time, he loved being Papa to his grandchildren, working outside in his garden, reading every plaque at a museum, and talking about old cars. He never met a stranger or passed up an opportunity to eat at a Cracker Barrel. He washed plastic bags to reuse and wore holes in his clothes but always had money for ice cream.

Above all, Alan loved the Lord with his whole heart. The greatest joy of his life was serving God and sharing the gospel story. As he neared the end, he lost the ability to articulate his thoughts. One of his final public testimonies was simply, “This has not been in vain.” It is enough to sum up his life, in deep gratitude for Jesus.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Doris; his son, Scott; and his siblings, Carol Draper and Raymond Carolus.

He is survived and sorely missed by his family and friends. His sons, Ross (Anne) Carolus, Garett (Suzi) Carolus, James (Christina) Carolus; his sister, Susan Howe; Daughter-in-law, Karen Carolus; 12 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

A visitation for Alan will be held on Monday, August 11, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at D.O. McComb & Sons Funeral Homes - Pine Valley, 1320 East Dupont Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46825. A Celebration of Life will follow at 12:00 PM at the funeral home. Alan will be laid to rest on Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at Freedom Cemetery, Freedom, NY.

Fond memories of Alan may be shared at www.mccombandsons.com for the family.