Carole attended Hebron Elementary School and graduated from Bosse High School in 1953. She earned a scholarship from IU School of Music where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. While majoring in piano and secondary cello, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in music and went on to play the cello in the IU Symphonic Orchestra. She was an honorary member of Phi Beta Kappa, and earned her graduate degree from Butler University in elementary teaching.
Carole married Marv Schmidt on June 8th, 1957. They settled in Indianapolis where she began her career at School 61 teaching the 2nd grade. Her main focus was teaching piano and she gave private lessons for many years. After she learned the harpsichord in 1970, Carole performed private harpsichord concerts, playing 32 Goldberg Variations in the home. Carole's friends meant a lot to her while participating with, IU School of Dentistry Faculty Wives, Stansfield Circle and Christamoore Home Guild.
Carole and Marv enjoyed sailing, shelling, and many New Year celebrations at their beach home on Longboat Key, FL. They enjoyed many years together with family sailing from Holland, MI to ports on Lake Michigan, Mackinac Island, and the North Channel. Time on the sailboat was very special to her and her loved ones.
She enjoyed gardening at her home in Indianapolis and in Longboat Key. Down in Florida, she was a member of the Longboat Key Garden Club, and their home was used for native plant tours. She also really enjoyed many years of gardening perennial native plants at her home on Geist Reservoir.
Carole thrived at cooking as well. She studied The Art of French Cooking with Julia Child and shared her joy of cooking with friends. She also enjoyed volunteering at Conner Prairie and preparing hearth cooking in their home fireplace with family and friends.
She really enjoyed cruising the Caribbean with Marv, her children and grandchildren. The family trip to celebrate her and Marv’s 50th wedding anniversary allowed them to visit and explore many different Caribbean Islands. It was a very special time with the entire family.
Carole is survived by her husband of 64 years, Marvin Schmidt, D.D.S.; her son Michael Alan Schmidt, M.D. (Sheila) Vascular Interventional Radiologist; and her son David Eric Schmidt, D.D.S. (Mary Beth) Physiologic Neuromuscular Restorative General Dentist; Carole is also survived by grandchildren Mackenzie, Matthew and Makaela Schmidt, Callahan (Bret) Walts, Kelsey, Courtney and Cole Schmidt and her sister, Jane Conway and nephew, Bryan Conway.
Carole was preceded in death by her father Noble J. Litherland and her mother Jessie Litherland.
The family would like to thank Rebecca Guzman and Rhonda Isenhower for many years of loving dedicated care giving. Also, we give our thanks to the many doctors and the very dedicated staff of Compassa.
Visitation Celebration for Carole will be held Friday, November 26, 2021 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Leppert Mortuary in Nora, 740 East 86th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Carole’s memory may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 50 E. 91st Street, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46240 US, https://www.alz.org/indiana, or Second Presbyterian Church.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.leppertmortuary.com for the Schmidt family.
