Carol Thomas Graham Luebbers

It is with profound sorrow and with an everlasting love that we announce the death of our mother, Carol Thomas Graham Luebbers. Carol, age 93, passed away peacefully May 27, 2022, in her long-time home of Ft. Myers, Florida and as a resident of the Shell Point Retirement Community. Carol was born December 15th,1928, in Akron, Ohio, the daughter of the late Irene (Fenn) Thomas and Benjamin Thomas. Along with her parents, Carol was preceded in death by her first husband, William O. Graham in 1988 and her second husband Raymond J. Luebbers Sr. in 2015, as well as brothers, Nelson Thomas and Gerald Thomas. Carol is survived by her sister, Rosemary Thomas Neal of Ft. Myers, FL who resides at the Shell Point Retirement Community, and by her four children: daughter Susan Graham of Cuyahoga Falls, OH, son David (Jean) Graham of Kent, OH, daughter Linda Graham Clark of Charleston, SC and son Richard (Laura) Graham of Bellingham, WA. Grandchildren include Kari Clark Nix, Kaitlyn Clark, and Madeline Graham, as well as three great grandchildren. In addition, Carol is survived by Raymond Luebbers' children, Raymond Luebbers Jr, (Mary Jo) of Sanibel Island, FL and Boalsburg, PA, Rosemary Kramer (Douglas) of Wilmington, NC, and Marilyn Modak (Michael) of Waxhaw, NC, and from them, six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Raymond Luebbers' son James Luebbers predeceased her. Carol grew up in the Firestone Park neighborhood of Akron, Ohio graduating from Garfield High School, Class of 1947. She attended The University of Akron where she received her teaching credentials. She remained in the Akron Metro area to teach grade school. She married William, our father, in 1955 and shortly thereafter stepped away from her career in education to begin a family. The newlyweds settled first in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio and then moved to Kent, Ohio in 1964. She was an active mother and housewife; and as her children grew older, she returned to teach Nursery School. She was also active in the Kent community, becoming a member of the Welcome Wagon nonprofit organization of Kent, OH. Due to William’s unexpected illness, Carol was forced to return to the workforce to support our family. After some difficult times in the mid-1970’s, she would ultimately land at Kent State University in the Foundation and Development Office. In 1980, in her position at KSU, she received a phone call from Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silvermen, New York City based fashion designers who had ties to Northeast Ohio. Shannon and Jerry, as we would come to know them, were retiring and seeking a suitable home for their extensive garment collection and asked if Kent State University might be interested. Carol’s persuasive communication skills and her ability to develop a lasting relationship with Mr. Rodgers and Mr. Silverman resulted in prodigious benefits to Kent State University. Several well-received annual fashion shows lead to a gift of the entire collection and funds to establish the Kent State University Museum, Collections of Fashion and Decorative Art. Carol would serve as the Museum's first acting director. She remained with the Museum through 1989 and helped usher in the The Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising at KSU. After the passing of our father, Carol remarried Raymond Luebbers Sr. in 1988 and permanently relocated to Ft. Myers, Florida in 1994 where they made new friends and enjoyed golfing and playing bridge. They were members of the Whiskey Creek Country Club and organized golf leagues and events at their club for several years. Carol always enjoyed meeting new people and loved conversing and socializing with family and friends. Her amazing memory and ability to share stories, as well as her knowledge of family history will be greatly missed. Per her wishes, cremation has already taken place. In remembrance of Carol, donations may be made to the Kent State University Museum, Collections of Fashion and Decorative Art, 515 Hilltop Dr, in Kent, Ohio 44242. Online condolences may be left for the family at gendronfuneralhome.com.

Carol Thomas Graham Luebbers

December 15, 1928 - May 27, 2022