Carroll Lee Bumgarner

Carroll Lee Bumgarner, age 84, of Lebanon and formerly of Norwich, passed away at home on June 12, 2021.  He was born in Waynesville, NC on May 7, 1937, a son of the late Dexter Lee and Rubye (Buchanan) Bumgarner.  Carroll was a proud veteran and patriot, having served in the US Navy from 1954 – 1958.  During that time, he served on the USS Lake Champlain and the USS Ticonderoga, both of which he is a life member of the ship’s organizations.  While in active duty, Carroll was a Radioman with the distinction of being a Speed Key Licensed Operator.  Most recently, and for many years, Carroll has been a member of the American Legion Post 180 in Lebanon.  He married his beloved wife, Maryann Catherine (Kostak) Bumgarner on October 28, 1965.  The couple made their home in Norwich, where they raised their family.  After Carroll retired from Pfizer and Company as a Chemical Operator, he and Maryann moved to their year-round home on Amston Lake in Lebanon, where they truly enjoyed lake life with their children and grandchildren.  Carroll had a green thumb for gardening.  He was known to grow giant beef steak tomatoes that he generously shared with family, friends, neighbors, and strangers.  Carroll was a gifted musician.  His family formed a band known as the Rose City Bluegrass Family Band, where he was the lead singer and guitar player.  He loved to go camping in the family motor home, traveling to anywhere there was a Bluegrass Festival.  Carroll also enjoyed foraging for wild onion ramps in the springtime, fly fishing in the summer, and squirrel hunting in the fall.  He had an affinity for classic cars, he loved his pets like family, and he will be remembered for his unique sense of humor, bestowing nick names to everyone he knew and loved.  Carroll will be sadly missed but always remembered with love by his wife of 56 years, Maryann; six children and their spouses, Carol Ann Butler of Georgia, Cindy Moreash of Jewett City, Randel Bumgarner of Norwich, Connie Lee and her husband David of Barkhamsted, Cheryl Plecan and her husband James of Lisbon, Cathy Day and her husband Keegan of Lebanon; eleven grandchildren; a brother, Dexter Bumgarner, Jr. of Clyde, NC; a special uncle, Harry Buchanan of Candler, NC and several great-grandchildren, extended family, and friends.  Always a special place in his heart are Heather, Adam, Molly and Jim for all their support and help.  In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by three siblings, Bruce Bumgarner, Brenda Bumgarner and Clarabell Butler.  Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 17th with calling hours from 4 – 6 pm at the Aurora-McCarthy Funeral Home, 167 Old Hartford Rd., Colchester.  Burial will be private in the Bozrah Rural Cemetery with full military honors.  Donations in his memory may be made to Honor Flight, Box L-4016, Columbus, Ohio, 43260.   www.honorflight.org. For online condolences, please visit www.auroramccarthyfuneralhome.com      

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