Carolyn (Dunn) Bland of Eustace was born to parents Ernest Nebraska and Alice Faye (Lewis) Dunn on October 16, 1942. She passed away peacefully on Christmas morning, December 25, 2020, at the age of 78. "Miss Carolyn", as she was affectionately called by many, was born and attended school in Mabank, Texas. She graduated from Mabank High School in 1960, where she is still the only person in school history to be Drum Major all four years in high school! In addition, she was Band Officer, Student Director, FHA Officer, Class Officer, Annual Staff Member, School Paper Staff Editor, and a Student Council member. Carolyn also played Basketball 4 years, was Captain of the Basketball team 1 year, and played Volleyball 2 years. She placed 2nd in State in Poetry Interpretation, and in her Senior year was named “Wittiest”, as well as being Football Sweetheart and a Homecoming Queen Nominee. Outside of school, she loved to rodeo and was an excellent barrel racer. After graduation, Carolyn moved to Dallas where she met and married her husband, Ernie Blumenthal. They moved to the “burbs”, and bought a house in Richardson, where they started a family, and raised their 3 children: Wendy, Douglas, and David. Although she had 3 very active kids involved in every sport imaginable, Carolyn, affectionately called Mrs. B. by her children’s friends, never missed a soccer or football game, or a track or gymnastics meet, or a volleyball game. Her children still wonder how she ever managed that feat! Carolyn loved to entertain and loved having a house full of friends and family. She was always the life of the party, and she loved to play practical jokes on people! Carolyn moved back to the Cedar Creek area in the early 90’s after her children were grown, settling just outside of Eustace. Shortly thereafter, she began working at Walmart in Gun Barrel City, where she retired from in 2014. She was the food demo lady, and if you ever were in that store between 1995 and 2014, you probably met her and had a sample of some of the delicious foods she cooked and served at her station by the bakery. She loved her customers and they loved her back. Many came in to ask her to pray for them, and she held prayer sessions right over the demo table she was working at. Carolyn also was an active member of the Mabank Order of the Eastern Star and later Athens OES from 1992 - 2020. She was past Worthy Matron in Mabank and still served as an officer in Athens this year. She was always putting on some kind of show or skit, both in the meetings and outside. She would regularly gather 5 or 6 other members and go put on a show for the Mabank Nursing Home residents. Carolyn was a member of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Payne Springs. Carolyn found great joy in caring for others and she was always ready with a smile, a hug, a prayer, a joke, or a shoulder to lean on for anyone in need. Carolyn was a devoted mother and grandmother, and her favorite pastime besides spending time with her precious family, was to keep up with the weather reports no matter where her children were living at the time! Her kids knew they could just call Mom for the latest and greatest weather reports, no matter where they were living. She loved to cook, enjoyed playing her electric keyboard, painting pictures, and collecting beautifully decorated eggs. Carolyn was a loving and beautiful soul, and she will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, Ernie and Faye Dunn; sister, Patsy Raz; brother, Joel Dunn; adopted brother, Vernon Howard; son, Doug Blumenthal and her beloved Udon, canine companion. She is survived by her daughter, Wendy Blumenthal White; son, David Ernest Blumenthal and wife Fujiko; grandchildren, Haley Nichole Blakely, Ian Blade Goodman Blumenthal, Deven Roger White, Sarah Carolyn Blumenthal; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
