Carol Anne Willingham

Carol Willingham loved the desert of her native Phoenix and enjoyed living in and exploring new places. She was an avid reader and a knowledgeable collector of books and at one time had her own on-line book-selling business. She was also a knowledgeable collector of watercolors as well as other art objects. She was known by coworkers, family, and friends as a highly qualified executive, an adept cook, an elegant decorator, and a great hostess. Carol was a big fan of the Dallas Cowboys (football) and watched every game she could. She was also a big Texas Rangers (baseball) fan and attended or watched as many games as she could as well. She was happy that her beloved Rangers won the 2023 World Series! Most importantly though, Carol was a wise and loyal friend and a loving daughter, sister, wife, mom, aunt, and grandma. Her friends and family loved her sense of humor, her patience and acceptance, and her quick and wonderful laughter. A single mother, Carol left Arizona in 1966 for California and later to Texas in 1972, to pursue and advance her career in insurance technology and remained in the field until her retirement. Carol is admired by how far she went in the business world at a time when even the smartest and hardest working women (as she was) had so many obstacles to overcome. Carol's hard work, leadership skills and cheerful but determined perseverance, and success in the business world are an example to younger family members and to others that knew her. Carol married Bob Willingham, a fellow insurance technology executive, in 1974 while in Austin,Texas and they lived around the U.S. and Canada and traveled in Europe for their work over a period of thirty years. Carol and Bob also traveled to Europe for pleasure during their retirement years. Carols parents Iona Mathieson and Charles Bowen, her brother Gary Bowen, her step-father Byron Mathieson and her husband Bob preceded her in death. Survivors include daughter Kari Bowen-Zilkenat and her husband Glenn Zilkenat of Texas, son Rob Willingham and his wife Nancy Logan and granddaughters Molly and Sydney Willingham of Virginia, her sister Andrea Graca and her husband Glen of Arizona, sister-in-law Carol Worsdell and her husband Clayton of California, sister-in-law Beth Willingham of Texas, brother-in-law John Willingham of Texas, nieces and nephews Cindy (California), Russ (Maryland), Emily (California), and Thomas and Anne (Texas), and 15 great-nieces and nephews. A private celebration of Carols life will be held for family and friends. A special thank you goes to the Brookdale Roanoke caregivers and staff for taking care of and caring for Carol. In lieu of flowers, a donation to https://act.alz.org in Carols memory is suggested. Service Details.