Obituary of Carolyn Polk Whipple

Carolyn peacefully passed away on September 15, 2021 after a valiant struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Carolyn was born in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 17, 1949.  She grew up in Alexandria, Virginia. She loved school, church choir, and frequent trips to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia to visit family. Carolyn had a brilliant and inquisitive mind and loved to read and learn. She enjoyed exploring the history and the natural beauty of the area.  Carolyn loved music and had the voice of an angel.

She went to George Washington High School where she graduated with honors, and from James Madison College graduating Suma Cum Laude with a B.S. in Geology and a teaching certificate. She began her long and distinguished career teaching Earth Science and Mathematics. In 1989, she completed her Master’s degree in Special Education at the University of Colorado, graduating with a perfect G.P.A. She worked as both a Program Director and teacher, but her real passion was to teach emotionally and behaviorally disturbed children. Her selfless devotion to them changed so many lives. She was always a fearless advocate for their education and welfare. She taught in Virginia, New Mexico, Alaska, and Idaho, with her career culminating after 33 years of teaching at Middleton Middle School.

She met Randy, the love of her life, and they married on July 8, 1986. She said he danced his way into her heart and never left. Randy said meeting her was the luckiest day in his life. Three days later, they left New Mexico and started their journey together on a 4,500 mile drive to Randy’s remote US Air Force assignment in Clear, Alaska. One year later, they moved to Colorado Springs for seven years and many more adventures in the Colorado Rockies, then back to New Mexico for seven wonderful years living in the Sandia Mountains, and finally to Idaho where she had lived since 2001.

 Carolyn loved adventure. She embraced the outdoor lifestyle and loved to camp, fish, rock collect, hike and ski. She loved spontaneous road trips! She also enjoyed quilting, scrapbooking, lapidary, and basketry.

Carolyn loved people. She had an indomitable spirit and a steadfast dedication to her friends, family, and students.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her loving and generous parents, Charles and Frances Polk; her brothers: Pete, Jimmy, and Mike; and her sister, Peggy. She is survived by her sister, Kathryn Mullins; her husband, Randy Whipple; and many much loved nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends.

Services for Carolyn will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 2^nd at Flahiff Funeral Chapel, 624 Cleveland Blvd. in Caldwell, Idaho, with a reception to follow. In remembrance of Carolyn, friends and family are encouraged to donate to the Alzheimer’s Association as a tribute gift or contribute live perennials for her memorial garden.  Written remembrances may be made for Carolyn on her tribute wall at www.flahifffuneralchapel.com.

Carolyn, we thank you for the laughter and love, and for standing by us on a wonderful journey. Your deep spiritual center, your compassion and kindness to others, and the way which you gave life its all will never be forgotten.

Services under the care of Flahiff Funeral Chapel, Caldwell. (208) 459-0833

Please copy the following link into your internet browser to stream Carolyn's services live on Saturday, October 2, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.:

https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/6156431690