Carolyn Ruth Reitter passed away Dec. 13, 2025. She was 97.

Born to Guy Arthur Nelson and Wilhelmina Lenore (Smith) Nelson on Sept. 25, 1928, Carolyn was a native of Chicago and graduated from South Shore High School. She attended the University of Illinois, majoring in bacteriology, now known as microbiology. Carolyn said she chose that major because it was the most difficult one the school offered. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta social sorority and Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society.

On a blind date at Illinois she met her future husband, LeRoy Maurice Reitter of St. Louis. After graduation she worked in bacteriology before marrying Roy on April 8, 1950, in Chicago. He immediately thereafter was called to active duty in the Korean Conflict, where he served as a U.S. Marine for 18 months. During that time she lived with her parents.

After Roy's discharge, the couple settled in St. Louis where they both worked for McDonnell Aircraft Co., she as a receptionist and he as an engineer. After building a home in suburban Manchester, MO, in the early 1950s, the couple welcomed two sons: Thomas William and Charles Andrew.

In the late 1950s, Carolyn and her family moved to Cocoa Beach, FL, after Roy was transferred to nearby Cape Canaveral, FL, for the Mercury and Gemini manned space programs. There she co-chaired the McDonnell Wives Club, which helped acclimate the large number of McDonnell families transferred to the area for the space program. Living as a stay-at-home mom, Carolyn worked temporarily during many of the Mercury and Gemini missions. She continued her scholastic growth by attending college-level courses in Florida and throughout her adult life.

In the late 1960s the family returned to St. Louis. Prior to Roy's retirement in 1981, Carolyn worked part-time in the field of law.

When the couple became empty nesters in the 1970s, Carolyn and Roy enjoyed their passion for travel. Owning GMC motorhomes, the couple traveled throughout the United States and North America into the 21st Century. They also traveled throughout Europe. Many winters found them camped in their motorhome at Disneyworld and in the Cape Canaveral area.

The couple moved to a cottage in the Cape Albeon retirement community in Valley Park, MO, in 2010 after living in Manchester, Trenton, IL, and Lake St. Louis, MO. They spent many an hour in their boat cruising around Lake St. Louis and pulling their children and grandchildren while they skied and tubed.

Following Roy's death in 2019, Carolyn moved to an apartment at Cape Albeon where she lived at the time of her death. Carolyn was content and happy reading in her apartment, watching HGTV and various sports teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs. She was in good mental and physical health at her time of her sudden passing.

She is survived by her two sons, a daughter-in-law, four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and two step great-grandsons.

The family plans for a private interment service at the Trenton, IL, Cemetery.

As a service of the SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, friends may sign the family's on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.