Page 62 - Summer 2019 - Lubbock Senior Link Magazine - Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

Caroline Edwards

EMBRACING

ALL of Life

By Cindy Gregg (Caroline’s Daughter)

Mark Twain probably said it best: To celebrate, she “Age is an issue of mind That spark of
“Age is an issue of mind over matter. and her husband over matter. If you sentimental
If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” spent three months adventure soon
I can’t think of a better descriptive traveling to Alaska don’t mind, it doesn’t inspired many
philosophy that encompasses the life by RV. matter.” more. At 79, she
of Caroline Edwards. She was born has an impressive
L. Caroline Gammey in 1940 in a Over the years, her list of accomplishments and
wood camp in Kalkaska, Michigan. passion to travel has taken her to 48 adventures that include hot air
She is the fifth child of eight siblings. of the 50 states and seven different ballooning, parasailing, white water
Her school years were spent in countries: Canada, Turkey, Russia, rafting, cave tubing, zip lining,
Atlanta, Michigan where she Greece, Mexico, Honduras, and and motorcycle riding, as well as a
continues to meet with her peers at Belize.
Caroline had been
with her husband,
Arnold, for 42 years
when he passed
away in 2003. Arnold
was a paratrooper in
the 101st Airborne
during WWII and
was captured in the
Normandy invasion helicopter tour over the Badlands
and held as a prisoner- National Park in South Dakota. She
of-war. This inspired has an energetic sense of adventure
class reunions. Impromptu reunions her desire to go skydiving in 2004 in and says that her fear of death is
are warmly held anytime she’s there. his memory. Her tandem jump was nonexistent, for reasons she cannot

In 1968, she moved to Texas with her at 11,000 feet with two somersaults fully explain.
husband, Arnold, and five children: and then free-falling for 6,000 feet In addition to traveling, Caroline
Janet, Stan, Arnold, Cindy and Jody. at approximately 120 mph, which loves collecting autographed books.
Caroline worked for LISD in several she was told was comparable to a One in her collection is from Peggy
different positions for twenty-two category 3 hurricane. Sue Gerron who was a close friend
years until her retirement in 1998. of Buddy Holly and the inspiration

62 Lubbock Senior Link