Carolyn Anne Koehler

Carolyn Anne Koehler, 72, passed peacefully from this life on October 28, 2024 at Community Hospice Center for Caring at Ascension St. Vincent's Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida due to long-term complications from a liver and kidney transplant.

Carolyn was born in Mobile, Alabama to William Otha Falls and Mary Evelyn (Stobert) Falls. She attended N.B. Forrest High School in Jacksonville and graduated from Thomas Edison High School in Alexandria, Virginia. Her B.A. was obtained at St. Mary’s College in St. Mary’s City, Maryland and her Masters in Library Science at Catholic University in Washington, D.C.

Carolyn married Charles (Chuck) Richard Koehler in 1974. Chuck preceded her in death in 2012 after 38 years of marriage.

Carolyn had a long, varied, and successful career with Fairfax County Government in Fairfax County, Virginia. She spent 20 years working for Fairfax County Public Library as her career advanced from Children’s Assistant to Children’s Librarian, Assistant Branch Manager, Training Coordinator, Community and Regional Branch Manager, and finally Branch Coordinator, overseeing the operations of 10-12 library facilities. She participated in many projects, long-term planning efforts, and system-wide committees that helped shaped the library system’s policies and future. One of her favorite activities was participating in the library’s murder mystery night troupe, “Murder Overdue” where she gleefully portrayed many colorful characters at library programs across the county. Following her retirement from the library in 2007, she went on to work as a school librarian in the Fairfax County Public Schools from 2007 to 2014.

Carolyn was well known and loved for her lively spirit, her infectious laugh, her mighty determination and her commitment to the care and protection of children and animals. She was an enthusiastic traveler of the world and a devoted parishioner of her beloved Virginia Hills Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia. She loved beautiful clothes and wore them to perfection.

She is survived by her sister, Mary Ellen (Falls) McKanna of Jacksonville, FL and her brother, William Alan Falls of Alexandria, VA as well as nieces Robyn (McKanna) Pelletier and Christina (McKanna) Laughman and nephew David Patrick McKanna. Many great nieces and nephews mourn her passing, as do her beloved dog Sugar and cats Suki, Suzi and Sudo.

A graveside memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m on Saturday, November 30th at Riverside Memorial Park, 7242 Normandy Boulevard, Jacksonville FL. 32205. Donations in Carolyn’s memory to the animal welfare charity of your choice, to the Humane Society, to Catholic University or to St Mary’s College would be appropriate and appreciated.