She fought a massive heart attack for two weeks, but it finally brought her down.
Carol was born November 5, 1928, in Kansas City, Missouri and never sat still. She was equally adept as a master teacher, actress, synchronized swim coach, world traveler and enthusiastic volunteer, combining the last two interests with several trips on a dental team to Guatemala.
At age 9, Carol landed her first acting job, when she was cast in a church musical. She acted and sang throughout school, and worked on a degree in theater. Later in life, Carol returned to her acting roots with the Senior Barn Players and as a commercial actress. She’s still appearing in TV ads for Price Chopper and Hallmark, as well as print ads for Olathe Medical Center and as the ziplining grandma for the Missouri Department of Tourism.
After college, Carol went to work as a hostess for Mid-Continent Airlines, later known as Braniff. When she married Robert Flynn in 1953, she had to stop flying, but started doing PR talks for the airline. This fed her life-long love of travel and through Braniff, she was able to take her family on trips to Europe, South and Central America, and Hawaii. She later traveled extensively with Bob in the Caribbean, becoming frequent sailors on Windjammer Cruises.
Carol started her 40-year career as an English teacher at J.S. Chick Elementary and later taught at Curé of Ars, Nallwood and Hocker Grove, and finished at Pembroke Hill, where she’ll be inducted into the Pembroke Hill Faculty & Staff Hall of Fame in September 2018. She loved teaching middle school because she thought that age group was the most fun.
In addition to acting, teaching, and travel, Carol had a long career as swim teacher and synchronized swimming coach, giving swim lessons to children and adults alike. Many found a love of water through her patient teaching, including all nine of her grandchildren. In 2009, Carol received the Senior Sportswoman of the Year Award from Win for KC.
If you asked her, Carol would say her greatest accomplishment was her four kids. Through her examples of caring, support, and humor, she created a close family bound by love and loyalty.
Carol was preceded in death by her husband Bob in 1998.
She’s survived by her children, Terry Flynn (partner Shelly Gerber, children Matthew and Grace); Mike Flynn (wife Linda, children Josh and Kira); Marcy Langhofer (husband Tom, children Kathryn and Erin); and Laurie Rector (husband Dale, children Quinn, Wyatt and Jillian). She’s also survived by her brother Marty Kraft (wife Rahimah Sweeney), nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
The world’s a better place because she was in it. She will be greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Carol's honor to the Paul Henson Family YMCA for teaching swim lessons to kids who can’t afford them. Paul Henson Family YMCA, 4200 West 79th Street, Prairie Village, Kansas 66208; (913) 642-6800; https://kansascityymca.org/locations/paul-henson/donate (link below)
Visitation Wednesday April 11 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm; funeral Thursday, April 12 at 10:30am at Curé of Ars Catholic Church, 9401 Mission Road, Leawood, Kansas. Private burial at a later date.
