Carolyn Lee Lobmiller

Carolyn Lee Lobmiller passed peacefully on September 8, 2026, in her room at Sanctuary by Strive, Bear Lake, in Apopka, Florida. She was 97 years old, just one month shy of her 98th birthday.

Born October 10, 1928, in Corpus Christi, Texas, Carolyn was the daughter of Clyde Stephenson and Mildred Lee. She was preceded in death by her sister, Betty Peavy, and her brother, Fred Lawyer.

Carolyn's 97 years were marked by three great loves: her love for God, her love for her family, and her love for people. Those who knew Carolyn saw each of these expressed throughout her life.

Following the death of her husband Robert William Pancake, father of four of her five children, Carolyn moved her family to St. Cloud, Florida, to live near her parents. During those years, she faithfully took her children to the Methodist Church in St. Cloud, helping establish a foundation of faith that would continue through generations of her family.

Carolyn later married James C. Trice, father of her youngest daughter, Susan. Following James' death, Carolyn decided she wanted to go to work and set her sights on Tupperware International Headquarters in Kissimmee, Florida. She was hired to work in the employee lunchroom. Through the years, her career took her far beyond where it began, and by the time Carolyn retired, she was working in the President's Office.

Carolyn later married Joseph L. "Joe" Lobmiller. Carolyn and Joe shared a happy marriage built upon a deep love for God and for one another. Their years together were filled with faith, companionship, travel, and love.

A Life of Faith

Carolyn's Christian faith remained central throughout her life. She attended First Baptist Orlando when the church was located in downtown Orlando and was baptized there by Pastor Jim Henry. She loved the Word of God and was a devoted student of the Bible. When Carolyn heard a meaningful sermon, she took careful notes so she could return to them later and continue studying what she had heard. She also loved the great hymns of the Christian faith, with “It Is Well with My Soul” among her favorites.

A Mother Who Made Life Special

Carolyn was a thoughtful and devoted mother who had a special gift for making ordinary family moments memorable.

Christmas held a particularly special place in her heart. First and foremost, it was a celebration of the birth of Jesus, but it was also an opportunity for Carolyn to pour her love into her family.

Somehow, she always found a way to provide special gifts for her children. Gifted and artistic, Carolyn often created Christmas gifts herself, making something especially for members of her family and then wrapping each gift beautifully.

Carolyn always looked her best. She loved dressing beautifully and took special care to look put together. She is remembered as always being a little bedazzled.

Her thoughtfulness extended far beyond holidays. Carolyn loved people. Even during her final season of life at Sanctuary by Strive, she was a blessing to other residents and to their families. Loving others was not simply something Carolyn spoke about; it was part of the way she lived.

Five Generations - A Remarkable Family Legacy

One of the extraordinary blessings of Carolyn's long life was seeing her family extend through five living generations.

Her remarkable family legacy includes five children, 15 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, and 25 great-great-grandchildren - a total of 79 direct descendants.

Her Five Children

-Diana Lee Shroyer Gardner, whose husbands, William V. Shroyer and Thomas E. Gardner, preceded her in death.

-William L. Pancake, whose beloved wife, Carolyn, preceded him in death.

-Duane S. Pancake, who preceded his mother in death.

-Elaine K. Pancake, and her husband, Shawn Gratz.

-Susan Trice Varan, and her husband, Tim Varan.

Carolyn was preceded in death by all three of her husbands: Robert William Pancake, father of Diana, William, Duane and Elaine; James Trice, father of Susan; and Joseph L. Lobmiller.

Her 15 Grandchildren

Through Diana and William V. Shroyer: Donald A. Shroyer (Darla) and Benjamin V. Shroyer (Yessenia).

Through William and Carolyn: Laura M. Moody (Vance), Cynthia L. Gray (Todd), Dr. Scott Pancake (Pamela), Brian Pancake (Jennifer), and Matt Pancake (Gina).

Through Duane and Betty: Robert W. Pancake (Julie), Clinton Pancake (Julie), and Joshua Pancake (Nikki Speir).

Through Elaine and Shawn: Lee Pancake (Madison) and Leah Pancake Gratz.

Through Susan and Tim: Andrew Varan (Colleen), Kathryn Varan (fiance Andrew Cornell), and Olivia Varan.

Duane also had two stepchildren, JR Starling and Cynthia Starling, who became part of Carolyn's extended family.

Her 34 Great-Grandchildren

Hayden S. Shroyer; Camden R. Shroyer; Benjamin V. Shroyer Jr.; Savannah Ashley Shroyer; Kayma Elizabeth Shroyer; Aislyn Halley Shroyer; Ethan Moody (Mary); Gabriel Moody (fiance Ali Burley); Jordan Gray (Marjorie); Jesse Lynn Harris (C.J.); Sunny Andrews (Zach); Samuel Gray (Shelby); Nathan Gray; Susannah Gray; Nolan Gray; Zeke Gray; Will Pancake (Kassandra); Luke Pancake (Aubrey); Ashton Pancake; Madison Pancake; Carolyn Ann Pulver (Austin); Alyssa Romano (Vincent); Taylor DuToit (Drew); Jacob Pancake; Devin Pancake; Isabella Pancake; Chelsea Castro (Mario); Millie Zollo (James); Lucas Pancake; Elijah Pancake; Owen Pancake; Ella Pancake; Karyssa Pancake; and Lilliani Timoteo.

Through Duane's stepfamily, Carolyn's extended family also includes Trinity Boyle and Cody Starling.

Her 25 Great-Great-Grandchildren

Eleanor Pulver, Joselyn Pulver, Lilly Pulver, and Bjorn Pulver, children of Carolyn Ann and Austin Pulver.

Jordan DuToit, Peyton DuToit, and Axel DuToit, children of Taylor and Drew DuToit.

Jack Gray and Evie Gray, children of Jordan and Marjorie Gray.

Sadie Harris, Jude Harris, Adeline Harris, and Charlie Harris, children of Jesse Lynn and C.J. Harris.

Tillie Mae Andrews, Andie Andrews, and Lainey Andrews, children of Sunny and Zach Andrews.

Calvin Gray and Ella Gray, children of Samuel and Shelby Gray.

Lyla Pancake, daughter of Chelsea Castro.

Jordan Mitchell and Leah Pancake, children of Isabella Pancake.

Ella Reyes Castro and Opal Pancake Castro, children of Chelsea and Mario Castro.

Kalli Zollo and Addi Zollo, children of Millie and James Zollo.

Her Legacy

Carolyn leaves behind much more than the remarkable number of descendants who follow her. She leaves a legacy of faith, family, generosity, creativity, and love.

The handmade Christmas gifts will be treasured. The beautifully wrapped packages will be remembered. And the example of a mother who made sure her children knew the importance of church, the Word of God and faith in Jesus Christ will continue through the generations that follow her.

Her family will remember the woman who loved beautiful places and God's creation; who traveled roads near and far; who studied her Bible and took notes on sermons she wanted to remember; who loved hymns; who created beautiful things with her own hands; and who continued blessing people even in the final season of her life.

For Carolyn, five generations represented far more than a family tree.

They were the living legacy of a life spent loving God, loving her family, and loving people.

Celebration of Life

A Celebration of Life honoring Carolyn Lee Lobmiller will be held on Friday, September 25, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at: Woodlawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road Gotha, Florida 34734.

Following the service, Carolyn will be laid to rest during an 11:00 a.m. graveside burial at Woodlawn Memorial Park.