SPOTLIGHT ON...
Carolyn Stengel
Story written by Lynda Stevens
A person in their nineties is known as a nonagenarian. I had to look it up. Carolyn Stengel is actually 95 and was recognized for her last birthday at a worship service in January. As she was leaving church, I asked her what vitamins she was taking...she just laughed.
Carolyn was born and grew up in Montgomery, Alabama, the youngest of two daughters to Lloyd and Virginia Chambless.
It was the time of the Great Depression. Families were struggling in every conceivable way. Carolyn lived with her family and extended family...cousins were always around for support and self-made entertainment. They all enjoyed each other's company. Only one person within that family network was employed...an aunt who managed to stretch her salary as best she could. Her mother’s parents, however, lived across the street, and Carolyn’s maternal grandfather, a Railroad Engineer, was also able to contribute to help support everyone.
WWII followed. Window blackouts, food rationing. Carolyn recalls that no elastic was used in underpants at the time as it was on the list of items needed for the war effort, so her mother sewed buttons
on them to hold them up. ‘Duck and cover’ practices were common in everyone’s homes.
Carolyn’s parents were members of the Dexter Avenue Methodist Church, a short distance away from the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church where Rev Martin Luther King preached.
Following school, Carolyn attended a business school in Montgomery. A move to Birmingham is how she met Casey, her husband-to-be, while living in the same apartment building. They were married after 6 months. ”You just know, don’t you?” she said. Their two oldest children were born in Birmingham, followed by the youngest two born after their move to Allentown, Pennsylvania. All the children grew to enjoy sports, whether it be football, soccer or basketball and were involved in all the typical activities available to them, dancing, movies, skating and skiing. Living with four teenagers there was always something going on plus, of course, the occasional teenage behavior to handle. Carolyn was a stay-at-home mom, yet despite taking care of her family, she was able to enjoy sewing and created well over 45 quilts.
The family vacationed in New Smyrna for 17 years and loved it so much that when retirement came, it was a given that Casey and Carolyn would relocate here. Sadly, Casey passed away in 1998 at the age of 74. Carolyn continues to live in the home they purchased. Her home suffered much loss during the last two hurricanes. Extensive roof damage occurred and she had to leave her home for 6 months for the repairs and then there was the frustration in dealing with FEMA.
Two of her daughters live in Northern Virginia; one has 2 grandchildren, and her other daughter lives in North Carolina with 3 grandchildren.
Carolyn is still able to maintain her independence. She volunteers at the Boutique and continues to drive. She’s very thankful her son Bob lives with her.
“My sewing machine is always out,” she added. She’s now making silk pillowcases.
I still want to know what vitamins she takes!
