Caroyl Reid

Caroyl Reid, 85, passed away peacefully at Salyer Adult Group Home on Sunday, November 10, 2024. She was born in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania on August 19, 1939 to Vivian and William Reid, and moved with her family to Niles, Ohio when she was 11. In high school she was active in Job's Daughters, serving as Honored Queen, and in the summer was a life guard at the Niles City Pool. A graduate of Niles McKinley High School in 1957, Caroyl went on to further her education at Grove City College in Pennsylvania. There she swam on the synchronized swim team, and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in biology and education in 1961. She then taught high school biology for a year in Cleveland, Ohio.

She heard about a new program begun by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 named the "Peace Corps", founded to assist developing countries. She was interested in the concept, became one of the earliest volunteers, and served for two years in the Philippines. While there, she taught students only a little younger than herself, and formed lifelong bonds. Sixty years later she was even visited by some of her former students while at Salyer Adult Group Home. After she completed her time in the Philippines, she traveled for a year touring Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, and other Asian nations.

When Caroyl returned to the U.S. she taught high school biology in Washington D.C. for a year, and then joined the company that would afford her a career...from a starting job in sales, to a senior position as an account development manager with I.B.M. Her love of travel and her independent nature allowed her to be mobile with I.B.M., and her assignments with the corporation gave her the opportunity to live in Washington D.C., Chicago, Illinois, Columbus, Ohio, Dallas, Texas, Birmingham, Michigan, Minnetonka, Minnesota, and Lexington, Kentucky in various roles. On her vacations she traveled to China, The U.S.S.R., France, Africa, the Netherlands, Japan, and Aruba in the Caribbean.

In several cities she bought and restored historic homes, and was "flipping" them before this became popular. After retiring from I.B.M. she decided leisure wasn't her thing and bought two business franchises in New York state. She continued to work as CEO until she decided to settle down near family in Hillsboro. Caroyl had never lived in a small town until she retired in Hillsboro.

Here she made new friends, and became a member of Towne Club, two bridge clubs, The Highland County Historical Society and the YMCA. Two of the houses that she owned in Hillsboro were on the Historical Society's Tour of Homes. She loved to garden, always had a complex jigsaw puzzle on her table, was a crossword puzzle aficionado, and a constant reader.

Never without a dog, Caroyl had four favorites over the years: two golden retrievers, Nash, and Tucker, a standard poodle, Funneau, and finally a little constant companion, Lucy-with her until the end.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother William Reid and nephew Michael Reid of Lafayette, Louisiana. She is survived by her sister Susan (Robert) Sharp, a niece Amy (Matt) Schneider and nephew R. Reid (Madeline) Sharp of Hillsboro, nieces Robin (Paul) Comeaux and Kathy Borah of Lafayette, Louisiana, and Renee' (Steve) Reiners of Columbus, Nebraska, and their families. Her cousins Shug Lukehart, Janice Gerhardt, David Doney, and John Doney also survive.

She will be cremated according to her wishes. Friends may call at Thompson Funeral Home in Hillsboro from 1:00 to 3:00 on Friday, November 22, 2024. A service will be conducted by The Rev. Thomas Wilson following the visitation. Burial will take place at a later date at Circle Hill Cemetery, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Highland County Historical Society, 151 E. Main St., Hillsboro, Oh. 4533 or The Highland County District Library, 10 Willittsville Pike, Hillsboro, Oh. 45133. The family would like to express their thanks to the staff at the Salyer Adult Group Home for their excellent and compassionate care during Caroyl's stay with them.

To sign Caroyl's online guest book, please visit www.thompsonfuneralhomes.com., or to leave a like, share or comment, visit the Thompson Funeral Home and Cremation Care Facebook Page.