Carol Ann Freshwater O’Brien, 74, of North Lewisburg, passed away Monday, April 10, 2017, in Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus, as a result of a brain hemorrhage.
She was born Sept. 30, 1942, in Coshocton to the late Kathleen Call Freshwater Kitchen and James Freshwater.
Carol was a graduate of Urbana High School and the Ohio State University, where she earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Carol served as teacher, counselor and gifted program educator with the Columbus Public Schools. She operated a private practice in clinical psychology, the Freshwater Clinic, where she used pioneering neurofeedback techniques among other successful therapies.
In 1966, she purchased 120 acres near Middleburg that became Wildflower Farm. With help of staff from many organizations, two permanent conservation reserves for wildlife and waterfowl were established over the years. As a volunteer with the Ohio Wildlife Center, she donated many hours and resources to infant waterfowl rescue and release, saving hundreds. Also an avid horsewoman, she rode many Midwest and western trails on her Rocky Mountain mare, Ribbon. She loved her gardens, cooking and having family and friends around the table overlooking the ponds on many memorable occasions.
She is survived by her beloved spouse of 22 years, Alice M. O’Brien, whom she married in Canada in 2005. She also is survived by five first cousins and many special friends, including Julia and Dennis Watson and Betsey and John Sidorenko, whose support during her final days was immeasurable.
She is preceded in death by her parents; an infant sister, Jeannine; husband, Crosby Manchester III; maternal aunts, Anna M. Ruland and Elberta Wooley; and stepfather, Arthur Kitchen.
Special thanks to the caregivers with NE Champaign County Fire District, Memorial Hospital of Union County ER, MedFlight, and the RMH Neurosurgical and Palliative Care/Hospice units for their professional and compassionate care.
An informal gathering to celebrate Carol’s life will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 23, at Wildflower Farm, 6322 County Road 158, Middleburg-East Liberty.
Donations in Carol’s memory may be made to the Ohio Wildlife Center, 6131 Cook Road, Powell, OH 43065, the Human Rights Campaign, PO Box 98098, Washington, D.C. 20077-7081, or to the NE Champaign County Fire District, 60 Maple St., North Lewisburg, OH 43060.
Freshwater, McDonald & Vernon Funeral Home, North Lewisburg, handled arrangements and condolences may be expressed at www.vernonfh.com.