Carol Brinton Selfridge

August 27, 1917 – June 14, 2010

Carol Brinton Selfridge took her final flight early on the morning of June 14, 2010. Carol led a life of exciting challenges, from flying for her country in WWII as a WASP and later with the Civil Air Patrol for search and rescue, to leading Girl Scouts on canoe trips down the Colorado and Green rivers, to riding motorcycles in middle age, to driving her van across country and her ATV around the Arizona desert in her 80’s. She led a life of service and caring for others that included raising her family, running PTAs, social work with foster children, and most recently watching out for other residents at Maravilla in her 90’s. She was fearless, fun loving, inclusive and adaptable, with a generous heart and deep faith.

Carol Elizabeth Wheeler was born on August 27, 1917 in Grand Junction, CO, moving to Arcadia, CA with her family at age 6. She married Mark James Brinton in 1938, eventually settling in Redondo Beach, CA in 1948. When Jim died in 1965, she moved to the Sacramento area, going back to college to earn a BA, and becoming a social worker for Placer County. In 1972 she married Glenn Selfridge and later moved to Burnt Ranch, CA where she helped organize a volunteer fire and rescue department. Glenn died in 1995 and she later moved to Salome Arizona and then to Santa Barbara in 2006. In addition to Jim and Glenn, she was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Ruth Allen Wheeler, sister, Doris Terry, brothers Philip and Donald Wheeler and infant son, Russell James Brinton. She is survived by daughters Linda Eberwein (Cliff), Sharon Kayser (David), Kim Brinton; son, Russell Scott Brinton (Stacey); 8 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

The memorial service will be at the First Congregational Church, 2101 State Street, Santa Barbara on Friday, July 2, 2010 at 2 pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Carol’s name to either the First Congregational Church or to LifeChronicles, PO Box 31152, Santa Barbara, CA 93130.