Carol Ann Pippenger made one final move to her eternal Home on Sunday, November 3, 2024 – just a few weeks shy of her 95th birthday.

Carol was born on November 28, 1929 in Santa Ana, California to Charles and Margaret Barker. Charles was a miner and Margaret was a teacher. During the Depression, her family moved to many different mining towns before landing in Grand Junction, Colorado for high school. There she met the love of her life, Bill. It was Bill's mother who invited Carol to come to a traveling evangelist's meeting, where she heard the gospel for the first time. She accepted the Lord as her Savior that night.

Bill and Carol were married on April 4, 1948 and moved many times, living in over 30 houses in 5 different states over the years before settling in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1991. They faced many trials together, but always trusted God to be faithful.

Carol spent most of her life as a homemaker and loved feeding her family, friends, and anyone else who needed a meal with her infamous recipes. She loved gardening, going for walks, sewing, and serving in her church. She prioritized attending the recitals, sporting events, weddings, and graduations of her many family members all over the country.

Carol is preceded in death by her brother Phil Barker, her beloved husband Bill Pippenger, and her oldest daughter Charlotte Mathers.

She is survived by her brother, Gordon Barker; her son-in-law, John Mathers; her children, Curt (Nancie) Pippenger, Margie (Wayne) Hallberg, David (Joy) Pippenger, Kathy (Doug) Crawford, and Terri (Dave) Schlarb; as well as 30 grandchildren, 56 great grandchildren, and 4 great great grandchildren. While they will grieve her absence, they have confident hope that she is no longer confused or in any pain, but eternally whole in the presence of her Savior.

There will be a celebration of Carol's life at West Cannon Baptist Church on Saturday, November 9. Visitation for family and friends will begin at 9:30am, with the service starting at 11:00. Her earthly body will be laid to rest next to her husband's in Findlay Cemetery, Ada.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Bible Translation Project through Bibles International, an organization Carol supported over the years.

Click here to donate to The Bible Translation Project