Obituary of Caroline Dade

Caroline Anne Dade, 90, passed away of natural causes on April 11, 2022, in Meridian, Idaho. 

 

Caroline was born in Reno, Nevada, on March 30, 1932, to William “Bill” Maute and Dorothy Mildred Esser. Her first home was a Southern Pacific Railroad passenger coach in Wendel, California. This was the first of nine small railroad towns that she lived in by the time she was 12 years old as her father was transferred across Nevada, California and Utah working as a roundhouse foreman for the railroad. From this meager beginning, she developed an enthusiasm for education that lasted throughout her lifetime.  

 

After attending the University of Nevada in Reno her freshman year, she embarked on a three-day train ride across the country to finish her undergraduate education at the University of Maryland in College Park. There she received a B.S. in Horticulture (1954) and was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. She stayed in touch with her Alpha Chi sisters throughout her life and was actively involved with the Beta Chi chapter at Willamette University during her time in Salem, Oregon.

 

While working on an M.S. in Plant Pathology (1957) at Washington State University, she met Philip Eugene Dade who was earning his Ph.D. in Agronomy. They married on March 31, 1956, in Pullman, Washington, and had three children.

 

After completing their degrees, they moved to Prosser, Washington, where Caroline worked as a technician in a soils microbiology lab before staying home to raise their family. After 10 years in Prosser, they moved to Salem, Oregon, where Caroline found a new career as an elementary school teacher with a focus on special education. She and Gene later moved to Boise, Idaho, to be closer to their children and grandchildren. For nearly the past 10 years, Caroline enjoyed living in the Meadow Lake Village retirement community in Meridian, Idaho.

 

A lifelong learner, Caroline took numerous classes at local colleges over the years, ranging from American Sign Language (in which she became fluent) and childhood development to calligraphy. She shared her love of education with others through her involvement on school boards, committees and related organizations and by volunteering with 4-H, Campfire Girls and at several elementary schools where she assisted young students with reading. She enjoyed music, theater, traveling, history and, most of all, weaving. Working on looms that were the size of a small car, she produced beautiful rugs, table runners, placemats, towels, draperies, and intricate wall hangings, and always enjoyed participating in weaver’s guilds and weaving demonstrations at the Oregon State Fair.

 

She had many beloved dogs over the years, but most cherished was her last companion, Ruby, a sweet golden retriever loved by everyone.

 

Caroline is survived by daughter Susanne (Phillip) Stenberg of Apollo Beach, Florida; daughter Karen (Bruce) Truxal of Bellevue, Idaho; grandsons Craig (Michelle) Robison, Kyle (Kim) Robison and Jacob Truxal; granddaughters Carissa (Corey) Knebel and Sarah Truxal; great-grandsons Nathan and Matthew Robison; expected great-grandson Tarik Knebel; niece Jennifer (Dan) McMartin; and sister Elizabeth “Betty” Lowe. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Gene, son Norman and nephew Daniel (Danny) Lowe.

 

Interment will be at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in Boise, Idaho. In Caroline’s memory, the family asks for donations to be made to Idaho Humane Society in Boise, Idaho. Arrangements are under the direction of Accent Funeral Home and Cremation, Meridian.

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