Carole Exter Wever, 86, passed away Sunday, 5 May, 2024. She was born on September 24, 1937 in Monmouth, Illinois to Fred and Marianna (Pat) Exter, the second of four children. When she was a toddler, the family moved to Bridgeton, New Jersey, where she grew up.

Carole graduated from Bridgeton High School and went on to university at Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin where she could be close to her older sister Patsy and family. After graduation, she spent a year in Manhattan at the Institute for International Studies with the idea of finding a job that would allow her to travel.

Carole's dream of working overseas came to fruition in 1962, when she got an assignment to El Salvador with the federal government. There she met her future husband, Bernard Wever, who was from Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The young couple took an assignment to Ecuador where they made the most of traveling and seeing as much of Central America as possible. Once they had started a family, Carole and Bernie moved back to the States and settled in Northern Virginia. After a brief career break to care for her two daughters, Carole continued working for the government until her retirement in 1992. During her time working for the government, she earned a master's degree in international public policy from Johns Hopkins University.

After retirement, Carole threw herself into the activities on offer in Kerrville, Texas, her chosen retirement location. Music and singing had always been a part of her life so with more free time she was able to build on this by joining a Sweet Adelines barbershop group, the River Chords. She also took up quilting and helped her quilt guild organise and attend various quilting shows. The Hill Country Youth Ranch was very grateful to receive donations of her lovely quilts, and many of her family members proudly display them in their homes.

Always passionate about women's education, Carole joined her local committee of the American Association of University Women to promote girls' access to higher education. She was also an active member of the Kerrville Performing Arts Society. At various points in time Carole took on leadership roles in all the organizations of which she was a part – sometimes challenging her computer skills, but she rose to the occasion! Carole also volunteered to teach English to second-language learners and was an enthusiastic bridge player.

Carole loved to travel. She and her husband owned several motor homes over the years, and annual holidays often included Carole, her brothers Fred and Rick, and all their families meeting up at an RV park or heading cross-country to places such as the Rio Grande Valley or eastern Canada. Before Bernie passed away in 1999, Carole and Bernie spent their retirement exploring America together in their motor home. After Bernie's death, Carole gave up RV life but travelled with friends to Alaska, Russia, Hawaii, Peru, and the Galapagos Islands.

Carole moved to the Annapolis area in January 2024 to be closer to her elder daughter and her family.

She is survived by her two children, Lucinda (Eric Mimms) and Andrea (Tim Puddefoot); five grandchildren, Lilith Mimms, Andrew Mimms, Georgia Puddefoot, Hayley Puddefoot ,and Erin Puddefoot. She is also survived by her brothers Fred and Rick Exter, and sisters-in-law Julie and Deb Exter.

The family wishes to express its gratitude to the resident assistants at Heartlands assisted living facility who provided her with exceptional care up to the end of her life, as well as to the staff of Hospice of the Chesapeake, and BrightStar Care.

A service of remembrance will be held on Sunday May 12, 2024 at 2:00pm at Barranco Severna Park Funeral Home & Cremation Care, 495 Ritchie Hwy, Severna Park, MD 21146.