Carole Russell Kuykendall
November 29, 1945 ~ February 10, 2025
Born in:
Murphy, NC
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Carole Russell Kuykendall, 79, of Asheville, passed away Monday, February 10, 2025 at Elevate Health and Rehabilitation.
Born November 29, 1945 in Murphy, NC, Carole was a daughter of the late Dr. Lorenzo Turner Russell, Jr. and Kathleen Simmons Russell.
Mrs. Kuykendall was a longtime teacher at Leicester Elementary School and West Buncombe Elementary School. She was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority, and was an active member of Acton United Methodist Church. After retirement, she volunteered at ABCCM for many years.
Surviving are her daughter, Casey Clark; son, Keith Kuykendall; the father of her children, Jim Kuykendall; grandchildren, Abbey Long, Tucker Kuykendall, Andrew Long and Kamryn Lusk; and great-grandchildren, River Brendell and Marshall Lusk.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to ABCCM, 1845 Brevard Rd, Arden, NC 28704.
Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is assisting the family.
Services
Funeral Home Assisting The Family:
Groce Funeral Home - Patton Ave.
1401 Patton Ave.
Asheville, NC 28806
(828)252-3535
http://www.grocefuneralhome.com
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She was a great high school friend.
Carole and I taught together at West Buncombe Elementary school. She was a great teacher and good friend. She will be missed!
Sadly sending condolences for dear Carole. I have
fond memories of Carole going all the way to our grade-school days
at then Grace School and our Brownie & Girl Scouts days and then through jr & sr high school.
Sending love to all Carole’s family.
Carole and I went through school together starting at Grace; David Millard and Lee Edwards High School. She will be sorely missed.
Carole and I became friends after we moved to Asheville in 1960. She lived on Griffing Boulevard nearby to us living on Griffing Circle. I thought it was so neat that her dad was our family dentist. We lost touch after high school as we went opposite directions to college as did Steve Macintosh and I. Fond memories of Asheville friends, including Carole. God bless all of her family and friends as they cope with the loss of this special woman.
Ms. Kuykendall, was the best teacher I ever had. She will be very missed!
I had a big crush on Carole when we were at Lee Edwards. I was a science nerd, and she was a VERY beautiful girl — and never the twain shall meet. I kept asking her out on a date and she kept refusing. Finally, one day she gave in, sometime in 1962. We took the Asheville city bus to see a movie at the Pack Square movie theatre. I don’t remember what the movie was now, 60+ years later. But I DO remember that our mutual classmate Jack Erdody saw us together coming out of the movie, and he said to Carole, “You’re on a DATE with HIM??” (Jack was much more popular and higher in the social pecking order than I was as a lowly science nerd.) We took the bus back home (we both lived in the Griffing neighborhood), and that was the end of it. Carole had done her duty by going on a date with me and proving that it was a waste of time and effort. Nevertheless, I have nothing but fond memories of Carole, and I thank her belatedly for doing the right thing. I looked at the vintage-1963 photo of Carole that George Todd attached to his Passing Notice email, and WOW! She still looks beautiful to me.