Carole L. Wisehart

Carole L. (Bliss) Wisehart, 73, of Newport died Sunday, September 13, 2015, at Mass General Hospital in Boston after a gallant battle with ovarian cancer. Carole was born on January 2, 1942, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the daughter of the late James and the late Sophie (Rundberg) Bliss. As both her maternal grandparents came from Norway, Carole was proud to be half Norwegian.She is survived by her two sons, Martin Wisehart and his wife Maureen of Portland, OR,Paul Wisehart of Springfield, VT, and her brother, Jan Bliss of Novato, CA, and her granddaughter, Carly Bliss Wisehart.In her early years, Carole was an army brat, as the family lived in various U.S. Army posts during World War II while her father was an Artillery Officer and instructor. Upon returning to Eau Claire, the family lived on Vine Street and Carole went to Campus School and Eau Claire Memorial High School. She participated in many extracurricular activities, was a cheerleader in her senior year, and graduated with the Class of 59. Carole received a Bachelors Degree from The University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire and then went to Hawaii where she met Ken Wisehart, an Officer in the U.S. Navy. They married in Eau Claire, and moved for various Naval assignments, the family arrived in Newport in 1978 when Ken became an instructor at the Naval War College. They divorced in1988 and Ken has since passed away. Carole earned her Master's Degree from the University of Rhode Island. She worked as a lab technician for the URI Student Health Services for 25 years, retiring in 2014 as their Director. Carole was an avid skier, a sport she learned from her father in her youth. She spent one winter as a ski bum in Vermont with her brother and shared many ski trips with her sons. She also enjoyed biking, boating, playing tennis, going to the beach, gardening and especially loved birds and dogs. One of Carole's greatest joys was spending time with her granddaughter, Carly, named for the nickname given to Carole by her father. A dedicated and caring daughter, she frequently flew home to Wisconsin to aid in her mother's healthcare.Carole was a devoted and active member of the United Congregational Church in Middletown where she served in many posts over the years, including Vice-Chair of the Trustees, Deacon, member of the Nominating Committee, member of the Prayer Circle, member of the Search Committee, member of the Chancel Choir and Bell Ringer. Carole was a generous and compassionate person who will be dearly missed by all who knew her.A memorial service in her memory will be held at 11:00 am, on Saturday, September 19, 2015, at the United Congregational Church, 524 Valley Road, Middletown, RI. Burial will follow in the Churchyard.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to United Congregational Church Memorial Fund, 524 Valley Road, Middletown, RI 02842, or to The Healing Co-Operative, 272 Mitchells Lane, Middletown, RI 02842.