Carolyn Vaughn Isenhower

Carolyn Vaughn Isenhower, 84, who devoted her lifetime not only to her family, but also to leadership roles in civic, cultural, historical, religious and political activity, died Saturday at her residence in Conover. Her passing followed several months of ill health. Her legacy of service to Catawba County citizens and institutions places her in a select group of the most influential women in the county’s history.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years, W. Stine Isenhower of the home; a daughter, Ann I. Rothschild and husband Randolph A. Rothschild of Hunt Valley, MD; a son, Charles Randall “Randy” Isenhower and wife Carmen Davis Isenhower of Newton; and four grandchildren, Charlotte Isenhower, Whitney Isenhower, Jordan Rothschild and Hannah Rothschild. Also surviving are a sister-in-law, Margaret Vaughn of Murray, KY; a niece, Alison LeGrove; and two nephews, Greg Vaughn and Kevin Vaughn.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, July 2, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Concordia Lutheran Church in Conover, with the Rev. A. Mark Schudde and the Rev. Brian Weaver officiating. The family will receive friends at the church following the service. A private committal service will be held for the family at Conover City Cemetery.

Mrs. Isenhower was born June 14, 1929, in Loudon TN, and grew up in Murray, Ky. She was the daughter of the late Charles Leonard Vaughn and the late Effie York Vaughn. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brother, Ted L. Vaughn. A graduate of Murray High School, she held the Bachelor of Arts degree from Murray State University. She and her husband, a Conover native, were married June 23, 1951.

Conover Mayor Lee E. Moritz, Jr., issued a statement Sunday calling Mrs. Isenhower “an exemplary citizen” of Conover and “a faithful servant of our community.” He continued: “She was a wonderful person and my beloved great-aunt and participated in many activities, very involved in Conover’s Sister Cities project. “She was a leader who will be missed.”

She had been president of the Catawba County Council for the Arts and had been chosen Volunteer of the Year by the Council; served on the board of the Western Piedmont Symphony; president of the Hickory Community Theatre; secretary of the board of Hickory Museum of Art; and served on the board of the S.A.L.T. Block Foundation and on the board of Hickory Community Concert Association.

In addition, she had been president of the Catawba County United Way, vice chairman of the Catawba County Library Board of Trustees and president of the Friends of the Library organization; a member of the board of the former Bank of Granite; vice president of the Catawba County Chamber of Commerce and active in its Business and Industry and Membership committees; as well as a member of the advisory board of the county Agricultural Resource Center and one of its Master Gardener designees.

She had received the Volunteer Award from Hickory Landmarks Society; received the Woman of Distinction award from the Catawba Valley Girl Scout Council; was involved in the Stephen Ministries program of Concordia Lutheran Church; had been president of both the Conover Service League, Conover Book Club, and Tar Heel Garden Club; on the board of the Family Guidance Center; and was on the board of the Catawba County Republican Women’s Club.

While her husband served in Raleigh representing Catawba County in the General Assembly from 1986 to 1992 she was secretary of the Sir Walter Cabinet, the organization of wives of state legislators, and also volunteered as a docent leading visitors through the Executive Mansion in Raleigh, the governor’s official residence.

Mrs. Isenhower followed in her mother’s footsteps as a local and state leader in the United Daughters of the Confederacy. She served two terms as president of Catawba County’s Ransom-Sherrill Chapter of the UDC and was a state officer. An avid reader of history, she presented monthly book reviews on works of Southern history to the local UDC chapter meetings until several weeks before her death.

The North Carolina state president of the organization, Lois Harwood Marlow of Concord, issued a statement Sunday about the death of Mrs. Isenhower and said she would be attending the memorial service in Conover to represent the N.C. Division of the UDC along with local officers and members.

“The North Carolina Division is saddened over the death of a very gracious Southern lady,” she commented. “We cherish what she has done to uphold the objectives of the organization: historical, patriotic, educational, benevolent, and memorial.”

Her family has stated that memorials to Mrs. Isenhower may be made to Concordia Lutheran Church, 216 5th Avenue, SE, Conover, NC 28613 or to Catawba Regional Hospice, 3975 Robinson Road, Newton, NC 28658.