Carole Anne Poltz

Carole Anne Poltz July 27, 1933 ~ March 27, 2014 Carole Anne Poltz, loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many, passed into the presence of her Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, in the evening, at home, on Thursday, March 27, 2014. She was born on July 27, 1933, in Glendale, CA to Carrold M. "Bud" and Helen Alice (Anderson) Parker. She attended Van Nuys High School and after graduation in June of 1950, went on to enlist in the Navy, where she was stationed in Wahiawa, (Oahu Island) Hawaii as a Communications Technician. Due to the sensitive and Top Secret nature of the information that was transmitted, Carole Anne had to be thoroughly screened by Naval Intelligence and, according to their qualifications, had to be a person of good character, patriotic, trustworthy and an able typist. It was during her tour of duty in Hawaii, that she met her future husband, Zane Poltz. Having a best friend that was the Chaplain's assistant gave Zane a bit of insider information about Carole Anne, including her name. When she came through the mess line where he was serving food, he called her by name - which caught her attention. He also sent her a Christmas card asking to make her acquaintance. As penmanship was not Zane's gift, Carole Anne thought that someone named "Jane" had sent it and it concerned her. She didn't know who "Jane" might be! Later, during a holiday dance on the base, Zane (who didn't know how to dance) cut in on Carole Anne and her partner. She didn't seem to mind the fact that Zane couldn't dance. Six months later they were married on May 3, 1953, in the World War II quoncet hut that served as the chapel for the Naval Base. (Zane says he had never worked so hard to meet a girl!) After their Honorable Discharges from the Navy in December of 1953, she and Zane flew back home to the States. They went on to school at Seattle Pacific College (now Seattle Pacific University). She would have graduated with a teaching degree in Home Economics, but when the first of their two children came along, her formal schooling ended with only one quarter left to complete! Carole Anne, Zane and the family made their home in Burien, WA until 1964, when they moved to Wenatchee, along with Grandpa and Grandma Poltz. Carole Anne's skills in homemaking, (especially cooking!), accounting and caring for others were a great blessing to all of the family and their many friends. As the years passed, she was the one who kept our lives in order, in part, by doing all of the bookkeeping for the two family businesses - Crown Furniture and Poltz Rentals, LLC. It was during those years, that Carole Anne heard the Gospel of Christ preached and came to know Jesus as her Lord and Savior. She loved to sing His praises and was gifted with the ability to harmonize with others in song, whether at the church or with a choral group and, for several years, she sang with the Sweet Adelines ladies' choir in Wenatchee. She often sang at home while doing chores. Carole Anne also enjoyed the camaraderie and service of the Wenatchee Valley Lions Club, where she was a member for many years and held the office of Club Secretary for the last 15 years. The dedication and friendship of the women with which she served meant a lot to her, as well as the causes they support. Being raised in Southern California, Carole Anne loved sunshine and summertime at Lake Chelan! The small cabin at Watson's Resort was her retreat for many summers and family and friends enjoyed the long warm days at the lake and the evening barbecues on the deck. A good book, a crossword puzzle, or a game of Pinochle along with a sunny day and a chaise lounge chair down at the beach were her favorite summer pastimes. If there was a good breeze, Zane would call her, along with other friends, to crew a sailboat and together they spent many hours on the water. Their grandchildren, all five, plus three of the great-grandchildren were blessed to share the "summer place" with Grandma Carole and Grandpa Zane. She was wonderfully patient with her grandkids; watching and teaching them to swim, picking up all of the wet towels repeatedly and finding just the right old movies to watch before bedtime - and snacks! At the age of 80, she was still working daily, attending a weekly Bible study with the ladies of Cascade Mountain Bible Church, whom she dearly loved and would even Facebook with a select few family members and friends. Retirement was not in her plan. Carole Anne is survived by her husband of 61 years, Zane; two children: Beth Poltz (John) Gordon of Chelan, and Blake (Kathy) Poltz of Wenatchee; five grandchildren; and three (soon to be four) great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her sister, Barbara Homeier of California. In closing, the best picture of Carole Anne's life is in the verses to follow: Proverbs 31: 25 - 30 "Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all." Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised." We give Him thanks for the gift she was to us! The Memorial Service to honor her life will be held on Friday, April 11, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. at Cascade Mountain Bible Church, 11025 Chumstick Highway, Leavenworth, WA. Luncheon and fellowship to follow after the service. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to: The International Assoc. of Lions Clubs, 35842 Eagle Way, Chicago, IL 60678-1358.

Carole Anne Poltz

July 27, 1933 - March 28, 2014