Carolyn J. Perkins

Carolyn Joyce Perkins July 17, 1957 to February 16, 2025

The world got a little darker when Carolyn Joyce Perkins, 67, of Columbus, Ohio, closed her big beautiful brown eyes for the last time at home after a brief and courageous battle with cancer on February 16, 2025.

She was born in Dayton, OH in 1957 to Janet and Neal Perkins, M.D. As a child, she was classical pianist and lover of animals. She earned her Bachelors and Masters in Animal Science at the Ohio State University. After graduation, she worked for Pizza Hut in food technology, developing recipes and refining food processes. She left Pizza Hut to work at M&M Mars before moving to Louisville, Kentucky to work for KFC, where she would work until she found her second calling at life, oncology nursing. As a two-time cancer survivor herself, she attended the accelerated nursing program at Bellarmine University and obtained her B.S. in Nursing. After graduating, she worked on the bone marrow transplant floor at the University of Louisville hospital for 8 years before having the opportunity to return home to Ohio and work at the James Cancer Hospital, where she worked until her retirement in 2021.

Everyone who knew Carolyn knew how much she adored her beloved dogs, treating each and every one like children. She loved her whippets and traveled all over the United States lure coursing and racing. She made so many friends over the years while racing, including Sheryl, Joanne, Barb, Lisa, and Julie, and she will be sorely missed. 

As a die-hard Buckeye fan, she loved watching Ohio State basketball and football. So much so, that after getting her devastating diagnosis, she fought and survived her disease to see her beloved Buckeyes win the National Championship. A special thank you to the Ohio State football team for visiting her in the hospital and providing her joy in a time of such sadness. 

Carolyn will always be remembered for her selflessness and kindness. To know her was to love her. She was the favorite aunt and will be missed by her nieces Janet Turner (her favorite), Jennifer Perkins, Maricela Lepe-Perkins and nephews Aaron Perkins, Ian Hyslop, and Jacob Perkins. We couldn’t have asked for a better aunt and we will miss our Aunt Carolyn every day.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, Janet and Neal, and brothers Paul C. Perkins, M.D. and Robert Perkins. She is survived by her sister and brother in-law Mary and Paul Hyslop, sister in-law Susan Perkins, nieces and nephews Janet, Jennifer, Maricela, Aaron, Ian, Jacob, grand-nieces and nephews Lily, Rowan, Lachlyn, Theo, Liam, Asher, Lucien, and Brian, and numerous cousins, including Maude and Faith.

The family would like to thank her friends Marianne, Lisa, Carol and Debbie for coming to stay with her at home and help care for her. A special thank you to her caretakers from Capital Health, especially Monica, Kim, Sylvia, and Marcel as well. She was so happy and comfortable to be at home. 

Carolyn’s memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved her, and she was loved so much.

The family is planning a celebration of life in the spring with details to be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Whippets Pay it Forward, c/o Annie Kelsey, 9803 Deerfield Circle, Carmel, IN 46032 or her sorority Alpha Xi Chapter Alumnae Association of Alpha Delta Pi, c/o Sue Knight, Treasurer, 6213 Rockside Cir. NW, Canton, OH 44718 would be greatly appreciated.