Carolyn Ruth Lunceford, wife of John Hyrum Lunceford, died 4 Jan 2025 in Terre Haute, Indiana.  Carolyn was born 2 June 1942 in Norwood, Massachusetts, the   daughter of Alfred Charles Purchase and Beatrice Knight Watson.  She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Purchase family moved to New Hampshire in 1949.  Carolyn graduated from  Marlborough High School in 1960.  She was a cheerleader for a short time and she took dance lessons. Carolyn worked at the Cheshire National Bank in neighboring Keene 1960-1962 & summer 1963.

Carolyn attended and participated in the services at the Federated Church and sang in the youth choir.

In July 1961 the Purchase family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints being baptized at the birthplace of Joseph Smith.

This was the beginning of a great new understanding and growth in Carolyn's life and in the lives of her parents & sister. As a girl, her father and mother and grandparents and aunts and uncles were all firm believers in Jesus Christ as our Savior and in one God who is over all.

After baptism, the missionaries encouraged Carolyn to go to BYU and in September 1962; Carolyn did although attending college had never been in her thoughts.  The   Purchase family moved to Utah in August 1963.

Carolyn worked while attending BYU on campus and in the summer at Zion's National Bank in Salt Lake City.  While at BYU Carolyn sang in the BYU University Chorale choir including at April 1963 General Conference.

Carolyn met her husband to be in December 1964 and they were married on September 10, 1965, in Salt Lake Temple.  Carolyn had an illuminating smile that captured John from the start.

Upon marriage they made their first home in Brawley, California where the eldest 2 of their children were born.   While living in Brawley, Carolyn served in church positions as a primary teacher (Blazer) and young women teacher (Beehive).  She also worked for a short time as a substitute teacher for the Brawley school system and then worked at the First Security National Bank.  She earned her Golden Gleaner Award while in  Brawley.

In September 1969 she returned to Provo Utah for her husband's master's degree at BYU.  In March 1971 they moved to Terre Haute where 4 more children were born.

In Terre Haute Carolyn served in church & the community.  She was a counselor in Primary, a teacher & counselor in Relief Society, church librarian and twice as a den mother for cub scouts.

Carolyn leaves a husband, John, 6 children, John (Sabrina), David (Melissa), Daniel (Trina), Jacob (Dina), Barbara Ninesling (Steve) & Benjamin (April), 12 grandchildren - Nicole Hackman (Michael), John IV, Dylan, Kaila, Evan, Logan, Chelsea, Devan, Rebecca, Reagan, Aleshia & Keaira & 3 great grandchildren – Jacob & Hope Hackman & Marek Mruk.  Carolyn's parents preceded her in death.  She also leaves a sister, Jean Srygley & her son Steven.

Funeral services will be Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 1845 North 6 ½ Street, Terre Haute.  Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until service time.  Burial will follow at Grandview Cemetery. Online condolences may be made to www.debaunfuneralhomes.com.