Carole Anne Stallings

Carole Anne (Morrow) Stallings was born in Ashtabula, Ohio on March 1, 1945, the only child of Carmela Dolores (Ray) Morrow and Wendell George Morrow (lifelong employee of the East Ohio Gas Company and WWII Army veteran). She attended Edgewood High School where she competed in girls’ basketball and was a cheerleader. This year would have marked her fifty-fifth high school reunion and she was looking forward to getting to Ashtabula to see her classmates.

As a child of the 1950’s, her family was known to take summer driving trips across the country to far away locations such as the Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, and Hoover Dam. Each of these adventures were chronicled in the View Master slides she accumulated throughout (and her future children loved to watch).

Carole chose to attend The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. She entered during a period of great growth in university attendance and loved to recall stories about having five roommates in her small dormitory room on campus. Carole fought past any tug of homesickness to northeast Ohio and remained at OSU to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1967.

It was during her Sophomore year at OSU that she met Robert Alan “Bob” Stallings, a central Ohio native from nearby Westerville, Ohio, who was one year her senior. The two were married on July 31, 1965 in a local ceremony and enjoyed a honeymoon in Virginia Beach, VA. She began her teaching career in the Westerville School District where she specialized in elementary education, which she maintained after the birth of her son (Jeffrey Andrew).

In 1971, the family relocated to Evansville, Indiana, where Bob joined the faculty of the University of Evansville and Carole worked part time as an educator while managing the household and preparing for the birth of her daughter (Wendy Leigh). These Indiana years were (Carole may say, too) short as it was decided the Stallings move to Southern California where Bob joined the faculty of the University of Southern California. Family lore is that this decision was based on a July 4th visit to Lake Erie that was met with snow flurries (or at least very cold weather), and the young family chose the opportunity of sunshine verses the east coast.

Carole spent her remaining life in Covina, California. She maintained her rule over the household while working part time as a substitute teacher in the Covina Valley Unified School District (neither child was lucky enough to have mom as a teacher), and also as an educator and administrator for many years at Temple Sholom Preschool in West Covina, CA.

In between, she dabbled in the local PTA, bowling leagues, Bunko parties, and generally trying to keep up with her children’s activities. After she “retired”, she enjoyed nothing more that helping to keep up with her grandchildren; and perfecting her Italian family’s recipe for homemade ravioli – a Christmas Eve tradition. Not to mention her love of all Ohio State athletic teams – especially Buckeye Football – and even USC Trojan sports (if they did not conflict).

Carole is survived by her husband Robert Stallings; two children, Jeffrey (Celeste) Stallings, Yorba Linda, CA; and Wendy Stallings (friend Tim Stoddard), Covina, CA; and eight grandchildren. She was preceded in death by parents Wendell and Carmella Morrow.

Carole was a tremendous supporter of multiple charitable organizations that were dear to her. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that you consider a donation in her honor to one of these worthy causes:

American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Aids Project Los Angeles, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, City of Hope, Los Angeles Mission, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, March of Dimes, The Ohio State University, Union Rescue Mission, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center

Carole passed away on May 8, 2018 at the age of 73. A graveside service will take place on Friday, May 18 at 3:00pm at Oakdale Memorial Park, 1401 S. Grand Ave., Glendora, CA 91740.