Obituary of Carol Walker Luntz

Beloved Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Friend, World Traveler, Artist, Photographer, Passionate Progressive, Carol Luntz was all of these and more to those who adored and admired this remarkable woman. Joining the Air Force at age 18 from a small town in North Carolina was an early indication that Carol had an appetite for travel, new sights and cultures.  This hunger to experience the far reaches of the world took her to Peru, Russia, China, Korea, New Zealand, Iran, Costa Rica, Argentina and Chile as well as Canada, England, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Norway, Italy, Greece and Spain. And, not generally in luxury – many times as a do-it-yourselfer finding her own way around these foreign lands.  Among her far flung adventures, Carol trekked Machu Picchu, scaled the Great Wall of China and cavorted with seals, walruses and penguins near Cape Horn at the tip of South America.  She drank in these vistas with her eyes, mind and heart, as well as with her camera, working until recently exclusively with film and producing impressive results. Active in the Brevard arts community, Carol spent time as a costumer and supporter of Indian River Players – now Melbourne Civic Theatre – even designing the logo, which, though evolved, is still in use.  In more recent times, you could find Carol displaying her own photographic works and supporting artist friends in the galleries and museums of the Eau Gallie Arts District.  Several friends formed “The Wednesday Group” and continue to meet weekly to encourage and nurture creative pursuits. Politically and socially, Carol kept well informed on local, state and national issues by tuning into NPR, CNN and MSNBC and reading The New Yorker.  She was eager to enlighten those unaware or uninformed and enjoyed gathering with like-minded forward thinkers at the Space Coast Progressive Alliance and Brevard NOW. Carol was the cherished mother of two daughters, Leslie Vock Neihouse of Rockledge and Karen Vock Scheinfeld of Sherman Oaks, CA.   Carol was enormously proud of Leslie’s career in aeronautics-related PR and management and son-in-law James’ fascinating work with IMAX films.  She gave her heart to grandsons Joseph and Jacob and was an engaged, entertaining and energetic grandmother.  Carol took delight in visiting daughter Karen as she made career moves in the Broadway business from Orlando to New York and Chicago.  Karen’s most recent move to California was for the heart and Carol was a radiant mother-of-the-bride four years ago when Karen married documentary filmmaker John. From surf fishing on Satellite Beach to oystering in the Indian River to watching turtles hatch and lay eggs seasonally along the shore, Carol enjoyed 50-plus years of living in Brevard County.  She loved the proximity to Cape Canaveral and rarely missed a chance to witness  rocket launches, from Mercury to Apollo to the shuttle program.  The recent Space X launch and landing awed her tremendously, as she reflected on the wonders, both natural and manmade, that she had witnessed in her all-too-brief lifetime. As the song goes, Carol “saw skies of blue and clouds of white” and thought to herself, “what a wonderful world.”   She will be greatly missed in too many ways to imagine by those she inspired and those who loved her dearly.