Carol D. (Johnson) Gephart, 89, of West Lafayette, IN, passed away peacefully on March 7, 2023. Carol was born on December 19, 1933, in Lafayette, IN to the late Frank A.  and Velma E. (Wolf) Johnson. Carol was the oldest of five children that included her sister Mary and three brothers Larry, Garry, and Robert. The Johnson family resided on a farm near Oxford.

Carol graduated from Otterbein High School in 1951. She attended Home Hospital School of Nursing. She married her high school classmate, Richard L. (Dick) Gephart on May 10, 1953 at the Oxford Methodist Church. When Dick finished a two year stint in the US Army, they returned to the family farm five miles south of Otterbein and had a long and successful life as a farm couple. They enjoyed 68 years of marriage until Dick's death on January 17, 2021. They raised four children: Pam (Tom) Robertson, David (Kay) Gephart, Nancy (John) Chapman, and Dan (Linda) Gephart. In their family, hard work was balanced with love, laughter, and good times.

Carol was a busy farm wife. She would stop what she was doing without complaint to answer Dick's request to drive a tractor, get parts, or bring dinner to the field. She would get kids ready for school, cook a chicken dinner, and bake a pie all while anticipating hauling a load of grain from the field. She was the last one to bed at night, making sure the family was ready for the next day's plans. Her mother's love radiated, raising their children on the farm, then helping raise generations of Gephart babies that followed with a grandmother's love.

Carol and Dick raised their family in the Armstrong United Methodist Church. Carol was a caring Sunday school teacher and bible school leader. Armstrong Church friends were a great source of joy for them. In retirement, Carol and Dick resided in West Lafayette. They attended St. Andrew United Methodist Church and later became members of the Otterbein United Methodist Church. Carol also enjoyed working on the Tippecanoe County Election Board during elections.

Carol and Dick loved to travel. They boated with family and friends on Lake Cumberland.  During the winter they enjoyed Florida sunshine, friends, a game of cards, fresh strawberries, and Disney World. Carol liked crocheting, bird watching, bowling, quilting & visiting the farm. Mainly, she loved being wherever Dick wanted to go, usually finding a place with a really good meal and a great piece of pie.

Carol will be missed by grandchildren: John (Nancy) Robertson, Kelli (Kyle) Bowen, Brad (Brooke) Gephart, Suzanne (Joe) Cox, Lauren (Dominick) Rund, Jay Chapman (Fiancé, Meredith Marley), and Scott Chapman. Carol was blessed with great-grandchildren: Tanner and AJ Robertson, Fletcher and Palmer Bowen, Cara, Kendall and Annabelle Gephart, and Molly and Tyler Cox. Carol is also survived by her brother Robert, sisters-in-law, June Johnson, and Janet Perkins Johnson, brother in-law Joe Gephart, and many nieces and nephews. Her friends from the Otterbein class of 1951, as well as her church friends, neighbors, and special care givers, Chris, Tabby, and Natalie were near and dear to her. Carol is preceded in death by her husband, Dick, sister, Mary Eberle, brothers, Larry and Garry Johnson, sisters-in-law, Nancy Johnson, Janet Johnson, Elaine Gephart, and brother-in--law, John Eberle.

Visitation will be Saturday, March 11, 2023, at St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 4703 N. 50 W. West Lafayette, IN, from 11:00 AM until time of Celebration of Life at 1:00 PM, with Pastor Ben Cassiday officiating. Burial will follow at the Armstrong Chapel Cemetery. Shoemaker Funeral Home, Otterbein, is assisting Carol's Family. Visit Shoemaker Funeral Home- Otterbein, Indiana Facebook page or www.shoemakerfh.com to leave any condolences or to share a memory of Carol. Memorials may be made to Armstrong Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 446, Otterbein, IN 47970, Otterbein United Methodist Church, 405 E. Oxford St. Otterbein, IN 47970 or St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 4703 N. 50 W., West Lafayette, IN 47906.