Carol Ann

Roberts

Carol Ann Roberts, 83, of Huntertown, IN, died November 7, 2026.
Carol was born March 30, 1943, to Vera & Gene Hathaway. Carol lost her father in World War II; at age 4 she was adopted by Vera’s new husband, Frank Dulin. Their rural property in Fort Wayne nurtured her lifelong affinity for nature: “I loved wandering in the open wild fields and cornfields surrounding our orchard and home.”
Carol sharpened her quill editing the Elmhurst High School newspaper and graduated Salutatorian.
She enrolled at University of Michigan (English major, French minor). After Carol locked her keys in her car at a training for Fort Wayne Parks counselors, a fellow trainee named Randy was eager to help. They began dating and never stopped. Her sophomore year, Carol transferred to Indiana University to be with Randy. After graduating in 1965, they married at Plymouth Church and honeymooned on Beaver Island, where they returned annually with their family.
Carol taught at schools in Cleveland, Cincinnati, and then Fort Wayne, where they built a home north of the city and raised their three children. In 1970, she co-founded Faith Church Preschool. Through Junior League, Carol co-founded the Fox Island Alliance, a nonprofit organization that established Fort Wayne’s largest park as a nature preserve and education center.
In 1986, Carol earned a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in English at Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne (IPFW) and joined the faculty. During her career, she created and taught diverse writing courses; served as Director of Writing, English and Linguistics; and founded the IPFW Writing Center, leading it from 1992 to 2004. With the motto “every writer needs a reader,” Carol empowered thousands of students from all disciplines, many first-generation in college, to critically think and persuasively write.
Carol served on the board at the Baker Street Train Station Association, Friends of Cedar Creek, and ACRES Land Trust as vice president. As editor of the ACRES Quarterly for sixteen years, Carol's wordsmithing brought vivid descriptions and scientific education about the non-profit's protected properties.
Carol said, "I love nature, books, sewing, art, sharing poetry, playing piano, the first snowfall, spring wildflowers, autumn leaves, summer on Beaver Island.” She taught us to stop, look, and listen; she has always been our own Mother Nature.
Carol is survived by husband Randy; daughters Kirsten (Tom) and Michelle (Sean), and son Eric; grandchildren Zachary, Ethan, Cassidy, and Sean; sister Dianne, brother Gary; and 11 nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to ACRES Land Trust https://acreslandtrust.org/ or Plymouth Church https://www.plymouthfw.org/
A Celebration of Life will be at Plymouth Church (501 W. Berry St., Fort Wayne, IN) on Saturday, December 5, 2026. Visiting Hours 10:00-11:30, Memorial Service 11:30, followed by Food/Fellowship.
FairHaven Funeral Home and Cremation Services is handling arrangements.