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| Caroline Wright Putnam |
Caroline attended Smith College and received a Master’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Amherst (now the University of Massachusetts). She married Robert Ervin Putnam, PhD (Died March 27, 2011) of Leeds, Mass on August 23rd, 1952. She is survived by her sister, Kate, brother, George, and children: David Putnam (JoAnne) of Chapman, Maine and grandsons Aaron (Katherine) and Ian; Robert Putnam (Lee) of Chicago, Illinois and grandsons Benjamin (Angela) and Christopher Putnam, and grandchildren Emily Towlerton (Drew), Richard, Douglas (Alyssa), and Michael Jones; Mary Bennett (Jim) of Newport, Ohio and granddaughters Elizabeth and Catherine; and Andrew Putnam (Kimberly) of Denver Colorado and granddaughters Tessa and Isabella.
Caroline was a woman of immense compassion, piercing intellect, and wry wit. She never complained about the barriers society placed before women, she simply dismantled them with unrelenting energy and a smile. Like her father and siblings, every stray cat found warmth, food, and love at Caroline’s home. Her compassion for all living things extended to dogs, turtles, spiders, errant children, and gardens.
Caroline was a generous spirit and very active in the Marietta community. She was a long-standing member of the League of Women Voters, and a stalwart member of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Marietta. She helped to found the Outdoor Education Center, the recycling center, and the Empty Bowls Project, and spent a number of years at the Washington State Community College.
Caroline was always excelling at new things. She learned to play multiple instruments and was a longtime member of the Valley Renaissance Consort. She learned to fly and spent many years as a private pilot. She was a passionate student of marine microfossils. She would eagerly receive packages of foul-smelling mud from various locations around the world and pore tirelessly over her microscope, identifying and photographing glorious shells foraminifera, coccolithophores, and radiolaria species.
Caroline thrived on chaos. She maintained a house full of grandchildren, cats, dogs, injured birds, turtles, gardens, and spiders. All nature grieves at her passing. She was selfless, uncomplaining, and unbelievably stubborn. Her spirit and the goodness she brought to the world will live forever through her friends, family, acquaintances, and strangers who passed her on the street.
See the obituary posted in the Marietta Times
