Carole Marie (Smith) Frey

Carole Marie (Smith) Frey 78, of Rochester, Ind., died June 3, 2012, at Life Care Center of Rochester. She was the mother of Wasilla resident Dana Robert Frey.

She was born Aug. 14, 1933, in Delta, Ohio, the daughter of Fred Dana and Mary Louise (Prentiss) Smith. She attended Delta High School, but graduated from Scott High School in Toledo, Ohio. On May 11, 1953, at the Wedding Chapel in Angola, Ind., she married Robert Morton Frey. He preceded her in death in June 1984.

A Wauseon, Ohio, resident for more than 30 years, Carole worked as a switchboard operator at a local wire factory in Wauseon and a telephone operator for Bell Telephone Co. She and her husband took dancing lessons together and enjoyed nights out dancing. They dreamed of moving to Arizona after retirement. After his passing in 1984, she moved to Arizona, settling for some time in Tucson before spending many years in Sierra Vista, Ariz. She lived in Sierra Vista until this past September, when she underwent major heart surgery. In January 2012, she was able to move to Rochester, Ind., to be with her daughter, Gina. In her younger years, she enjoyed hiking in the mountains and desert around Tucson, Ariz., with her companion, Will Ramsey, who preceded her in 2007. They also loved to go out dancing. She cared for elderly patients in their homes until her own health would no longer allow it. She was a “people” person and has left behind many friends besides her loving family.

Survivors include her son, Dana Robert and wife Linda Frey of Wasilla; daughters, Gina Rene (Frey) and husband Gary Enyart of Rochester, Ind., and Heidi (Frey) Windish of Sylvania, Ohio; grandchildren, Adam Wayne and wife Amber Enyart of Plymouth, Ind., Meagan Elizabeth and husband Collin Lichtenberger of Fairbanks, Max Frey of Fairbanks, Audrey Alana Enyart of Rochester, Ind., Justin Windish of Portland, Ore., and Faith Windish, Sylvania, Ohio. She was also the proud great-grandmother of James, Steven, Hannah and Adam Lichtenberger of Fairbanks, and Elise Renee Enyart and Lucas Wayne Enyart of Plymouth, Ind. She’s also survived by sisters, Julie, Laura and Kathy.

Carole was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Fred; and sister, Emma.

Memorial services are at 11 a.m., June 23 at First Christian Church, Wauseon, Ohio.

Arrangements were by Zimmerman Bros. Funeral Home, Rochester, Ind. Online condolences may be sent to zimmermanbros@rtcol.com.