Caroline A. Dabbs, 77, of Westerville, Ohio, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, January 3, 2026.
Born August 5, 1948, in Concordia, Kansas, Caroline was the daughter of Ruth (Mollerstrom) and Earl Fortier. She graduated from Clyde Rural High School in 1966, where she was a twirler, drummer, and a frequent honor-roll student.
On June 18, 1966, Caroline married Henry Dabbs at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Clyde, Kansas. Together they raised two children.
Caroline was a gifted seamstress, creating drapes for each of her homes and giving every room its own personality. She also sewed clothing for her family, including two three-piece suits for Henry that were proudly displayed in a local fabric store. Beyond sewing, Caroline was a self-taught oil painter who found joy in capturing Amish life and landscape scenes. She shared her talent by teaching oil painting classes, until the shop where she taught closed.
In 1977, Caroline won a trip to Hawaii through a contest at work, allowing her and Henry to travel to Maui—a cherished memory. The couple also loved traveling together, with Lancaster, Pennsylvania being their favorite destination, a place they visited once or twice each year.
In 2025, Caroline was diagnosed with non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver.
She is survived by her daughter, Melissa Falluccki of Westerville, OH; her son, Derek (Logan) Dabbs of Broomfield, CO; her sister-in-law, Sylvia Dehrkoop of Everly, IA; and her grandsons, Hayden of Brooklyn, NY, and Tate of Broomfield, CO.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Marguerette and Oscar Mollerstrom; her parents, Ruth and Earl Fortier; her sister-in-law, Joyce Woodbury; her son-in-law, Kevin Falluccki; and her brother-in-law, Cliff Dehrkoop.
Caroline requested cremation and no formal service.
