Carol Joan Cruzen's Obituary
February 22, 1930 – November 24, 2022
Sunnyvale – Carol Joan Cruzen (Walker), 92, of Sunnyvale, California, passed on November 24, 2022.
Carol was born on February 22, 1930, to Byron and Ann (Hanson) Walker in Los Angeles. She married her husband Robert (Bob) Cruzen August 20, 1955, sharing 65 years together until his passing in December 2020.
Carol had many interests and led a full and active life. Educated as a teacher, she was an active community volunteer, educator, and organizer becoming involved in all her children’s activities.
Born in Los Angeles, Carol was raised in San Marino, the only child of Ann and Byron Walker. Although she had no siblings, her parents both came from large families and holidays were full of functions shared with aunt, uncles, and many cousins. Carol remained close with her cousins throughout her life, enjoying documenting family history and sharing family stories with those interested in the past generations.
Growing up Carol played the accordion and performed at local events. In high school, she worked as an usher at the historic Pasadena Playhouse enjoying many theatrical performances.
Her participation in Girl Scouts influenced her entire life. From a Brownie to a Mariner in high school, scouting fostered her interest in singing, nature, camping, hiking, leadership, community service and youth programs. In college she spent summers as camp counselor “Smokey” at Singing Pines Girl Scout Camp in the San Gabriel Mountains, the same camp she attended in her youth. Fifty years later, she and Bob would return to Singing Pines to attend the camp’s closing event in May of 2000. As an adult, Carol remained active in Girl Scouts as a Troop Leader, Neighborhood (Laurelwood/Raynor) Troop Organizer, and finally Neighborhood Chairman, coordinating 27 troops within the City of Santa Clara and parts of Sunnyvale.
Carol graduated from South Pasadena-San Marino High School in 1948 and Whittier College in 1952. At Whittier she was a member of the Ionian Society and Delta Phi Upsilon fraternity for early childhood education and earned an elementary teaching credential. After graduation, she taught third grade, at John Marshall Elementary School, South San Gabriel (1952-54) and later at Fair Oaks School, Redwood City (1955-59).
In 1955, Carol married Bob Cruzen, after he returned from two years in Germany with the Air National Guard. Carol and Bob had met in high school at Oneonta Congregational Church’s youth program. The young couple made their home in Mountain View in northern California where Bob was a student at San Jose State College. In 1958 they would settle in Sunnyvale where they lived for the next 64 years becoming active in their neighborhood and community.
Carol was a charter member, first Treasurer and original teacher (1965-1971) of the Laurelwood Preschool, which is still operational today. In 1971, the Laurelwood PTA awarded Carol the Honorary Service Award for her many years of volunteer work with the Laurelwood Preschool and the Girl Scouts.
Carol returned to education as an aide teaching in the math, reading and computer lab at Bracher Elementary School, Santa Clara, retiring in 1995.
Carol and Bob were active members of the Laurelwood Cabana Club for over 50 years and later served as managers for several seasons. Many of their closest friends were families met through the Laurelwood Swim Team where they regularly volunteered each summer.
An avid reader, mysteries were her favorite. She enjoyed writing, genealogy, gardening, sewing, travel and natural history. Family trips to the Sierras were common, camping, backpacking and swimming in the summers, skiing in the winters. Later, Carol and Bob enjoyed dancing in a square dance club for over 20 years.
In retirement, Carol and Bob frequently traveled and were commonly spotted in the bleachers, in the audience, on the sidelines or the pool deck attending their grandson’s events.
Even late in life Carol enjoyed good health remaining independent and sharp. She looked forward to watching the Niners games, her weekly trip to the library, and tending her garden.
Carol is survived by her daughter Lyn (Rob) Lavery of Windsor and son Rich (Gina) Cruzen of Fremont, grandsons Tyler (Samantha), Mitchell, Lee and Aiden.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband Bob.
A private family inurnment will be held at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo.
In lieu of flowers, a donation in Carol’s name to the Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends is welcomed.
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