Carol Loretta (Ballard) Bruner, 82, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and loved ones on November 4, 2021.  She was born October 17, 1939, in Chicago, IL. Carol graduated from Parker High School in Chicago, IL, and pursued her teaching degree in Education at Kentucky State University.

Carol met her husband, James Bruner, in Fort Knox, KY and they were married in military fashion on base. Following his discharge from the military, they lived briefly in Cleveland before moving to Akron, OH. She was a proud educator for 30 years, in the Akron Public School district and loved her students. She resided in Cuyahoga Falls, OH for 21 years, and was a longtime member of the Chapel Church in Akron OH.

Early in life, she loved to travel and occasionally enjoyed going to local stores or restaurants as long as she had on a warm sweater or coat. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and talking on the phone with them when they were far away. It always made her smile. She enjoyed listening to music with her husband, James. Some of their favorite artists were The Chantels, Al Green, and The Manhattans. She loved sweets. One on her favorites was pineapple sherbet. Carol loved animals. She was a member of the Humane Society and the ASPCA. She enjoyed summertime barbecues, celebrating holidays and everyone’s birthday.

She was a cancer survivor twice in 27 years, and a survivor of Parkinson’s disease. Carol was loving, strong, kind, devoted, intelligent, patient, and very generous. She will be missed by her family, friends, and colleagues.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Lucinda (Russell) Ballard; her brother, Robert Ballard; and sister, Ernestine Brown.

Carol leaves to be mourned by her husband of nearly 60 years, James Bruner; son, Michael Bruner; daughter, Monica (Bruner) Allen; son-in-law, William Allen; grandchildren, Kenneth Averiett, Michelle Averiett, and Egypt Bruner; sister, Lenore (Duval) Patterson; siblings-in-law, Leonard Bruner of Oklahoma City, OK, Linda (Bruner) Brown of Oklahoma City, OK, and Louise (Bruner) Milliner of Las Vegas, NV; a host of nieces, nephews, and many other relatives and friends around the country.