Carolin McCormick Furst Carlson
PORT ALLEGANY- Carolin McCormick Furst Carlson, 85, died peacefully at home on May 28, 2019, after surviving a stroke and other illnesses.
Born on April 20, 1934, in Williamsport, PA, she was the eldest daughter of S. Dale Furst, Jr. and Esther Caroline McCormick Furst Obrien. On Sept. 15, 1956, in Turtlepoint, she married Elton Frederic Carlson, who died on June 26, 1970. She made her home and raised her children in Port Allegany for forty years, before moving to the Bristol Village retirement community in Waverly, OH, in 1996.
She was a graduate of Abbott Academy, Andover, MA, (1951) for which she served as class fund agent for 53 years, and Smith College, Northampton, MA (1955) where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. Before marrying and starting her family, she was a child welfare caseworker for the McKean County Children’s Bureau. She remained a strong advocate for children’s development, enrichment and education throughout her life.
Carolin will be remembered for her many volunteer activities and civic endeavors, and her quiet, trail-blazing feminism after her husband’s early death. As a member of the Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Port Allegany, she served as junior choir director, lay assistant and in other capacities. Trained in grief counseling through the Lutheran Church of America, for 25 years she founded, organized and led chapters of THEOS, a national self-help organization she helped expand into Canada. She was one the first women on the Board of Directors of the First National Bank of Port Allegany, where she served for two decades. Other leadership roles included president of the S.W. Smith Memorial Library board when the bookmobile service was initiated, publicity chair or the Sesquicentennial Committee to celebrate the founding of Port Allegany, and president of the Port Allegany Women’s Club.
After moving to Ohio, Carolin became active in her new community, including the winter T’ai Chi group for many years. She became a member of Grace United Methodist Church where she served as a women’s circle leader. She was a visible supporter of the Pike Chamber of Commerce and the Garnet A. Wilson Memorial Public Library of Pike County. When she wasn’t driving all over the eastern seaboard to see family, friends and historic sites, she enjoyed watching the moon rise over her backyard garden.
Surviving are two sons, Eric Dale (Alice Lourdes Tacandong) Carlson of Houston, TX, Dwight Leonard (Vicky Huang) Carlson of Jacksonville, FL; a daughter, Margaret Carlson (Joel Richard) Nikoleit of Chicago, IL; two grandchildren: Jade and Katie Carlson of Jacksonville, FL; two sisters, Margaretta Furst (Joseph) Stewart, Dorothy O’Brien (Stephen) Schopfer; a brother, Sidney Dale (Margaret) Furst, III.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Elton, and a brother, James McCormick (Kathleen) O’Brien.
Carolin remained close to her cousins Elizabeth Furst Williamson Fullerton and Gail McCormick Husted Erhardt. She always felt a part of her husband’s family even after his death, thanks to his siblings Anna C. (Gilbert) Moore, Ruth C. (late Gerry) Grimes, George A. (Virginia) Carlson, Alice C. Tolan, Dr. James W. Carlson, and the late Rena C. Hitchcock and Roxie Carlson. She loved visiting and keeping in touch with her numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Friends are invited to attend a memorial service at 10 a.m. Saturday (July 6, 2019) in the Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Port Allegany, with Rev. Joann Piatko, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Port Allegany.
Memorials can be made to the S.W. Smith Library, 201 E. Maple St., Port Allegany, PA 16743.
Local arrangements are under the direction of the Switzer Funeral Home, Port Allegany.
PORT ALLEGANY- Carolin McCormick Furst Carlson, 85, died peacefully at home on May 28, 2019, after surviving a stroke and other illnesses.
Born on April 20, 1934, in Williamsport, PA, she was the eldest daughter of S. Dale Furst, Jr. and Esther Caroline McCormick Furst Obrien. On Sept. 15, 1956, in Turtlepoint, she married Elton Frederic Carlson, who died on June 26, 1970. She made her home and raised her children in Port Allegany for forty years, before moving to the Bristol Village retirement community in Waverly, OH, in 1996.
She was a graduate of Abbott Academy, Andover, MA, (1951) for which she served as class fund agent for 53 years, and Smith College, Northampton, MA (1955) where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. Before marrying and starting her family, she was a child welfare caseworker for the McKean County Children’s Bureau. She remained a strong advocate for children’s development, enrichment and education throughout her life.
Carolin will be remembered for her many volunteer activities and civic endeavors, and her quiet, trail-blazing feminism after her husband’s early death. As a member of the Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Port Allegany, she served as junior choir director, lay assistant and in other capacities. Trained in grief counseling through the Lutheran Church of America, for 25 years she founded, organized and led chapters of THEOS, a national self-help organization she helped expand into Canada. She was one the first women on the Board of Directors of the First National Bank of Port Allegany, where she served for two decades. Other leadership roles included president of the S.W. Smith Memorial Library board when the bookmobile service was initiated, publicity chair or the Sesquicentennial Committee to celebrate the founding of Port Allegany, and president of the Port Allegany Women’s Club.
After moving to Ohio, Carolin became active in her new community, including the winter T’ai Chi group for many years. She became a member of Grace United Methodist Church where she served as a women’s circle leader. She was a visible supporter of the Pike Chamber of Commerce and the Garnet A. Wilson Memorial Public Library of Pike County. When she wasn’t driving all over the eastern seaboard to see family, friends and historic sites, she enjoyed watching the moon rise over her backyard garden.
Surviving are two sons, Eric Dale (Alice Lourdes Tacandong) Carlson of Houston, TX, Dwight Leonard (Vicky Huang) Carlson of Jacksonville, FL; a daughter, Margaret Carlson (Joel Richard) Nikoleit of Chicago, IL; two grandchildren: Jade and Katie Carlson of Jacksonville, FL; two sisters, Margaretta Furst (Joseph) Stewart, Dorothy O’Brien (Stephen) Schopfer; a brother, Sidney Dale (Margaret) Furst, III.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Elton, and a brother, James McCormick (Kathleen) O’Brien.
Carolin remained close to her cousins Elizabeth Furst Williamson Fullerton and Gail McCormick Husted Erhardt. She always felt a part of her husband’s family even after his death, thanks to his siblings Anna C. (Gilbert) Moore, Ruth C. (late Gerry) Grimes, George A. (Virginia) Carlson, Alice C. Tolan, Dr. James W. Carlson, and the late Rena C. Hitchcock and Roxie Carlson. She loved visiting and keeping in touch with her numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Friends are invited to attend a memorial service at 10 a.m. Saturday (July 6, 2019) in the Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Port Allegany, with Rev. Joann Piatko, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Port Allegany.
Memorials can be made to the S.W. Smith Library, 201 E. Maple St., Port Allegany, PA 16743.
Local arrangements are under the direction of the Switzer Funeral Home, Port Allegany.
To send flowers to the family in memory of Carolin Mccormick (Furst) Carlson, please visit our flower store.