Obituary of Carolyn Ruth Rethmeier

Rethmeier, Carolyn Ruth Rethmeier, age 92, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on Saturday, May 6, 2023. Carolyn was born May 5th, 1931 in West Plains, Missouri, the daughter of Ruth and Herbert Fitzgerald. Carolyn spent most of her childhood in West Plains, MO and in Lebanon, MO. As a young adult, Carolyn moved to Springfield MO where she became a secretary at Producer’s Creamery. In her early 20’s, Carolyn moved to Dallas and worked at Texas Instruments. She always told the story of how she met her husband, Mel, there with a chuckle. After accidentally cutting in line for getting a coke, he said smiling, “I do not mind at all.” Carolyn raised her three daughters, Joyce, Janet, and Julie with love. Later, she reentered the workforce at the SampleHouse where she enjoyed almost two decades of employment.

Carolyn will forever be remembered for her passion of books, history, cooking, traveling, and passing on the stories of her family tree for future generations. Her love for her husband Mel is of great comfort to her family now that they are reunited. In her last years, she frequently remarked on her love for his presence in her life, the paintings he made, and the time they had together. Furthermore, her skill in packing every relative around a dining table on Thanksgiving will be sorely missed with both laughter and love.

Carolyn is preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Mel Rethmeier. Carolyn is survived by her three daughters, Joyce Rethmeier, Janet Blasingame and her husband Mike Blasingame, and Julie Smith and her husband Scott Smith. She is also survived by her grandchildren and great grandchildren, Barbara Allen and daughter Addyson, Emily Duran and her husband Lucio, Jay Blasingame and his wife Megan along with their children Catherine and Mary Michael, Jeffrey Blasingame and his wife Ellie along with their children Jasper and Joy, Katie Thompson and her husband Sam along with their children James and Bridget, Becca Blewett and her husband Christopher, as well as grandchildren Jarrett Blasingame and Benjamin Smith. She is also survived by her sister Barbara Mabary and husband Bob and their daughters Christy Hall and Cindy Mabary.

The Commitment Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at the DFW National Cemetery at 11:30 am. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at Presbyterian Village North’s Monie Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org