Dorothy Carter Koob

Dorothy Carter Koob was born January 10, 1923, in rural Iowa, and died July 28, 2024 in Boiling Springs, South Carolina.

Dorothy grew up on a farm with her parents and siblings near North English, Iowa. She attended and graduated from Parnell School. Dorothy met her future husband, Leonard, the summer before she graduated high school. They married in May 1942 and were partners for 62 years. They moved many times in the early years of their marriage as the depression made jobs hard to come by. During the first 11 years of marriage, they lived in Montana, Washington, Idaho, Colorado, California, Arizona and Florida. Son Gary was born in Washington in 1944, son Thomas was born in Colorado in 1946, and daughter Janella was born in Florida in 1955. After Janella was born, they moved to Mayo, S.C., and eventually moved to the Inman/Boiling Springs area where they remained for the rest of their lives.

Dorothy was a stay-at-home mother until all her children were enrolled in school. She then worked at Butte Knitting Mills and later at Head Start. She and Leonard were founding and active members of the former Lamb of God Lutheran Church in Spartanburg. She was a current member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Tryon, N.C.

Dorothy loved gardening, both flowers and vegetables, and kept busy each summer canning and freezing the garden harvest. She also loved knitting and crocheting, cooking and hosting friends for a meal, traveling and bowling. Her cinnamon rolls were famous to family and friends who knew her well! Dorothy loved to visit friends and family and was always available to help others. She kept active and at the age of 85 she joined Silver Sneakers and was able to attend exercise classes until she turned 95. She was also an avid Braves baseball fan and was able to enjoy listening to ballgames even when she could no longer see. Her motto was ‘use it or lose it’ and even when she turned 101 she was still exercising. A lesson for us all!

Dorothy is survived by son, Gary Koob of Inman, S.C., daughter, Janella Koob Lane of Boiling Springs, S.C., and sister, Virginia Carter Hoppenstedt (Orville) of Independence, Missouri.

She was predeceased by her husband, Leonard, son Thomas, brothers, James Carter and Robert Carter, and sisters, Carol Stoneman, Ladine (Deanie) Thomas, and Phyllis (Polly) Woellhof.

A memorial service will be held at Seawright Funeral Home on August 11, at 2:30 PM.  The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the funeral Home.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mobile Meals of Spartanburg or to Trinity Lutheran Church, Tryon, N.C. Family is at home of Janella Lane.