Carol A. Polen

POLEN, Carol A., age 76, of Bellbrook, passed away Sunday, September 21, 2025, at the Patterson in Beavercreek. Carol graduated from Wilbur Wright High School in 1968, where she met her husband, Jim. She was a member of Resurrection Evangelical Lutheran Church in Centerville for nearly 40 years. She loved watching her son play football and was a member of the Bellbrook Athletic Boosters. She was proud to be a Navy wife and Navy mom. Carol was a loyal wife, proud mother, and loving grandmother. She was social and fun-loving, enjoying visits with friends and family. She loved to watch NASCAR, cheering on Dale Earnhardt and Dale Jr., and enjoyed attending races with her husband. She also enjoyed watching The Ohio State Buckeye football team on Saturdays. She was proud of her Precious Moments collection, which mostly represented loved ones and special moments in life. She loved taking her granddaughters to parks, reading, doing word searches, and coloring. She often colored with her granddaughters until late in the night. She loved children and enjoyed sitting on the floor to play with them. Carol loved Pepsi, bacon, and cheeseburgers - well done. She loved Elvis and never tired of listening. She loved chocolate and was always offering sweets to those she loved. She enjoyed making cookies, homemade fudge, and banana pudding with (and for) her family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim, in March of this year; her parents, Carl and Mary Lou Howard; one brother, Louie Howard; and one sister, Karen Jackson. She is survived by her son, Jim (Mandy) Polen; two granddaughters, Kendall and Caroline; one brother, Jerry (Kyoko) Howard; and two sisters, Wilma Artz and Shirley (Virgil) Gallagher. Her family would like to thank the staff who cared for her at The Patterson, and especially the nurses from Ohio Living Bethany Hospice in her later months. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, October 1st, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Conner & Koch Funeral Home in Bellbrook. A funeral service will immediately follow the visitation at 7 PM at the funeral home. If desired, contributions may be made to the Ohio Living Bethany Hospice. Condolences may be made to the family at www.connerandkoch.com.

Carol A. Polen

October 3, 1948 - September 21, 2025