Carolyn Carter Kellum

Carolyn Carter Kellum, formerly of Plainfield, died February 13, 2010 at the age of 99 at the Robin Run Healthcare Center in Indianpolis. Born on January 28, 1911, in Plainfield, IN, to the descendents of Quaker pioneer settlers, Carolyn attended public schools in Plainfield except for her final two years at Olney Friends (Quaker) School in Barnesville, OH, where she graduated in 1928. She graduated from Earlham College in Richmond, IN in 1932 with a major in Mathematics and a minor in English, and then studied Library Science at the University of Southern California. Carolyn taught high school for 24 years in three Indiana school districts--Union City, Mooresville and Plainfield. In 1941, she married Clark Kellum, took a 14 year hiatus from teaching, raised two children--Evalyn and Allan, performed the many tasks of a farm wife, and gave considerable time to PTA, church and various civic activities. Carolyn was a person who could envision new possibilities, convince others, and take the practical steps to accomplish new goals. She, Clark and other Guilford Township citizens worked to enact a state law that changed the powers of Township Trustees in Indiana so that the trustees no longer had absolute power on educational matters. The resulting law, after it was upheld by the Indiana Supreme Court, led to the creation of a school board--first in Plainfield and later in other jurisdictions in Indiana. But it was after her retiriement from teaching that she accomplished what some view as her primary achievement, starting the Hendricks County Meals of Wheels (MOW) program. Carolyn was active with the work of the PEO, the Mooresville Nature Club, the Plainfield Women's Club, the Hendricks County Historical Society, and various other civic groups. Importantly, her local Friends (Quaker) Meeting and the Friends World Committee FWCC) were both especially dear to her heart. Carolyn is survived by her daughter Evalyn Anne Kellum, her son Allan Carter Kellum and her granchildren, Scott and Allison Kellum. There will be a memorial service at 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 10, 2010 at the Plainfield Friends (Quaker) Meeting at 105 S. East Street, Plainfield, IN 46168. Instead of flowers, please send a contribution in Carolyn Kellum's name to the Plainfield Friends Meeting (address above), to the Hendricks County Meals on Wheels or to Earlham College. For additional information please visit the website http://www.carolynkellum.net