Friday, October 2, 2026
Carol Jane Lake, 83, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother of Fort Worth, formerly of Granbury, passed away surrounded by family Monday afternoon, Aug. 25, 2025.
Carol was born March 18, 1942, in Rock Island, Illinois, to Joseph and Marie Welsh. She earned an education degree from Western Illinois University and moved to California to teach, where she met her future husband, Robert (Bob) Lake.
Bob and Carol were married Dec. 18, 1965. Bob was a C-130 navigator in the Air Force, and they soon moved to Okinawa, Japan. They spent three years there, followed by transfers to California, Arizona, Arkansas and Spain, before settling in Fort Worth.
Carol was an elementary school teacher for 25 years, ending her career as a second-grade teacher at H.V. Helbing Elementary School in north Fort Worth. One of her proudest accomplishments as a teacher was inspiring a number of her students to pursue teaching careers as well.
Carol loved to play bridge, online and in person, native gardening, documentaries, a good novel, and a good margarita. She was very involved in St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in Granbury. She and Bob traveled extensively and were known for their epic road trips.
Carol is survived by her beloved Bob; her children, Anne, Alan (Kendal), Jessica (Nathaniel), and Stasia (Justin); her grandchildren, Simon, Alex, Pilar, Asa, Turner, and Jane; her nephew, Jeff (Lyn), and their children, Nick and Katie. She is preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Mary Jo, Judy, and Mike.
A memorial Mass celebrating Carol’s life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in Granbury. A reception will follow that afternoon from 2-4 p.m. at Rex’s Bar & Grill at 1501 S. University Drive in Fort Worth. Burial will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Covenant House, a privately-funded organization that provides shelter and support for young people and survivors of human trafficking, or St. Joseph's Indian School, whose mission is to educate Native American children and their families for life.
