Carol Sue Flenar, 86, of Etna Green, passed at 4:54 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, at her residence.
Sue was born on Aug. 26, 1935, in Etna Green, to the late Lawrence and Lucile Hollar Cole. She was married on May 28, 1955, in the Etna Green Church of Christ Parsonage to Kay A. Flenar; he survives. Sue was a spunky, loving and generous woman who loved to travel, dote on her grandchildren and celebrate holidays in style.
Sue was a 1953 graduate of Etna Green High School. She had been a member of the Etna Green Church of Christ for over 70 years. Sue had worked for Playtime Products in Warsaw. Sue retired from the U.S. Postal Service where she had been a rural mail carrier for 27 years in the Etna Green Post Office. Many can remember seeing her zip around town in her white mail car with the steering wheel on the wrong side – which a few of her oldest grandkids used to practice driving, with near-disastrous results.
Sue’s favorite thing in the world was spending time with her grandchildren and great-granddaughter. She never missed an opportunity to see them play music or sports. She spent many hours sitting in the bleachers or other uncomfortable seats at her grandkids’ activities, cheering them on at everything from baseball, basketball and football to community theater plays and piano recitals.
She loved cars, and enjoyed watching people drive her classic Ford Galaxie 500 in the Etna Green 4th of July parades. For years, she dreamed of getting a red Volkswagen convertible. Her husband Kay pushed back on that request until a point where she ended up in the hospital, when he promised that if she got better, he would buy her that red Volkswagen. Sure enough, she got well, and not long after started asking when they were going to pick up the car.
Sue’s passion, aside from her grandchildren and cars, was traveling. Her favorite and most-frequented vacation spots were Englewood, Florida, (where she and Kay bought a vacation home) and the Smoky Mountains in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. She was also proud to tell the story of when she traveled to New York City and went up into the arm of the Statue of Liberty as a child. More recently, she and Kay took a train West to Yellowstone National Park with their grandson, Justin.
Holidays were a big deal for Sue. She loved hiding Easter eggs filled with change for her grandkids to hunt, accompanying them to the Etna Green Halloween festival and trick-or-treating, and most of all, decking her house out in Christmas lights and décor for her favorite season.
She is survived by her husband, Kay Flenar, of Etna Green; children: Teresa and husband Steve Weaver, of Claypool; Kimberly and husband Jerry Garey, of Etna Green; and Gary Flenar of Etna Green; grandchildren, Justin Weaver, Allison Weaver, Brandon and wife Kindra Garey, Camron and wife Maranda Garey, Seth Flenar and Nathan Flenar; a great-grandchild, Tessa Garey; sisters Pat Mullins and Beverly and husband Kyle Carter; sisters-in-law, Linda Flenar and Tammy Cole; and nieces and nephews.
Sue was preceded in death by her parents; a granddaughter, Kristen Garey; and a brother, Don “Jug” Cole.
The funeral service will take place at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23 at King Memorial Home, 101 N. Tucker St., Mentone, with Pastor Randall Myers officiating.
The interment will take place following the service in the Etna Green Cemetery, Etna Green.
Visitation hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 22 at King Memorial Home, Mentone.
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Memorial contributions can be made in Sue’s memory to the Dementia Society of America PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901; or to Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice.
Share a memory or send an online condolence at: www.hartzlerfuneralservices.com.
