Obituary

Carol Herbst, SMSGT USAF Retired, was born in December 1937 in Cleveland, OH. She went to be with our Lord on November 3, 2022, at home in Avondale after a fight with cancer.

Carol attended West Technical High School in Cleveland, OH. She obtained her BA from Park College in Parkville, MO and her MBA from Golden State University in San Francisco.

During her 26-year Air Force career, Carol served in many capacities, mostly related to personnel development, including recruiting and drill instructor. Her duty took her around the world as she served in Wiesbaden and Ramstein, Germany, Shu Lin Kou AS in Taiwan, Clark AB in the Philippines, and multiple US stints, and retired at Luke AFB.

Not yet done with serving, Carol then took a job with the Veterans Administration. In her 12-year career there, she focused on finances. She retired as the Finance Officer for the state of Arizona, and contracted there for an additional 5 years.

Still not done with serving, Carol then became a volunteer at Southwest Lending Closet. She quickly became the inventory manager and was instrumental in putting a numbering system in place to track inventory. Carol was recognized as the 2006 Star of the Year, and became the manager of operations the following year. Carol retired from Southwest Lending Closet in 2016.

In addition to Southwest Lending Closet, Carol served on the Avondale 30-year planning commission; and was recognized with a banner in the Avondale Hometown Hero program.

Carol enjoyed bowling for many years – she won the Omaha City championship while active duty at Offutt AFB in NB… maybe because she would bowl at lunch time at the bowling lanes just a few doors down from her office! For two years, she also bowled on the Worldwide Squad representing the AF throughout the US. She also liked traveling, reading and sports.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents William James and Mildred Marie Schlisinger Herbst. She is survived by two cousins James Zahand and Phyllis Dale. Visitation begins at 8 am on Friday, November 11; followed by Services at 10 am at Thompson Funeral Chapel. Memorials may be made to Southwest Lending Closet in Avondale.