Carol Ann Koby died quietly at St. Catherine’s Village on Tuesday, June 2, 2020. She lived a long and rewarding life, and was just two-months away from being 98 years old. Carol Ann Thornton was born on July 19, 1922, to Dr. William Thornton and Genevieve Newkirk Thornton at Glenville Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. She was the youngest with 3 older sisters: Florence, Colette, and Genevieve. Carol Ann was raised by her father after her mother died from breast cancer when she was 7 years old. She grew up during the Great Depression and attended St. Aloysius Catholic Church and Elementary School and Ursuline High School. After the European Conflict, she married William (Bill) Z. Koby in 1948. Like many WWII veterans, Bill returned to school at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, and Carol Ann gracefully fell into her role as a house-wife, busying herself with keeping up with their young family with four sons. After Bill graduated from Ohio State, the Koby family moved to Houston, Texas. Soon her family grew to include a daughter, an anomaly to the whole family. With five growing children, Carol Ann was a busy momma and enjoyed her role and life in Houston. In 1968, she moved with Bill and her 2 youngest children, to Starkville, Mississippi, leaving 3 sons in college in Texas. She grew to love life in the quiet college town where she developed many lifelong friendships. Choosing to remain there after Bill died in 1996, she lived in Starkville for 40 years. She enjoyed her garden club that didn’t garden, her bridge club, and the St. Joseph Catholic Church community where she volunteered and faithfully went to mass daily. She exercised daily until she was 84 years old. Carol Ann ultimately moved to St. Catherine’s Village, Madison, MS, in July 2006. The joy and reward for her life is evident by her love for her extensive family.
Carol Ann leaves behind her five children: William Anthony (Tony) Koby (Janis); Timothy (Tim) Francis Koby (Bunny); Thomas (Tom) Gerard Koby (Teresa); Thornton (Toby) Patrick Koby; Tracy Koby Wofford (Tom). She also will be missed by her fourteen adoring grandchildren: Collette Marie Koby; William (Will) Anthony Koby (Mandy), II; Laura Catherine Koby; Benjamin (Ben) Jenkins Koby; Ashley Murry Koby (Stephanie); Katie Koby Lichty (Jonas); Michael Patrick Koby (Tabitha); Megan Koby Dunn (Wylie); Chelsea Lee Koby (Wes); Brenna Elizabeth Koby; Bowen William Koby; Koby Ann Wofford; Nathaniel Thomas Wofford; and Mary Scott Wofford. The legacy continues with fourteen great grandchildren including Catherine, Liam, George, Lucy, Frank, Bryson, Landon, Keller, Lainey, Sydney, May, JT, Jack, and Birdie, and three great-great-grandchildren: Hailey, Autumn, and Lilah.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Bill Koby, her parents, sisters, nieces, nephews, and granddaughter, Tammy Harris.
A funeral mass was held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Starkville, MS on Friday, June 5, 2020. Following the Mass, Carol Ann was buried next to her dear husband, Bill, in Memorial Gardens in Starkville, MS.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 607 University Drive, Starkville, MS 39759; St. Catherine’s Village, 200 Dominican Drive, Madison, MS 39110; or the charity of your choice.
Our family extends our sincerest thanks to the caregivers and therapists at St. Catherine’s Village.
There are too many to name here, but their kindness and prayers over all the last 14 years have been heartwarming and are appreciated.
