By Brian Biggane
LANTANA — Longtime Hypoluxo Island resident Carol Titcomb died surrounded by family on Nov. 23. She was 91.
Born Carol L. Milemore in Northport, New York, on Jan. 14, 1932, Mrs. Titcomb planned to attend Cornell University to become a brain surgeon until she met Ray, who became her husband of 73 years. After a brief romance, the pair was married and headed to Bridgeport, Connecticut, where Ray studied to become an industrial engineer.
Not long after, Mrs. Titcomb became pregnant with the first of their four sons and became a full-time homemaker.
In 1952 the couple learned Woodbury Pewter in Connecticut was up for sale and decided to buy it and began selling reproductions of early American pewter.
“If Ray needed something shipped out at night,” Mrs. Titcomb told The Coastal Star earlier this year, “I would have the kids fed by 6 o’clock and go to the shop and help Ray pack until 12 or 1 o’clock.” The business remains in the family, now run by son Brooks.
Mrs. Titcomb became “very involved” with the Newtown (Connecticut) Town Players, producing a play, doing makeup, production and promotion.
In 1985 the couple took a trip to Florida and found a house on the water on Hypoluxo Island. Learning the “For Sale” sign was about to go up, they arrived early the next day to check it out.
“We looked out to the water and said, ‘This is fabulous,’” she said. “We made an offer, and they took it.”
In her nearly 40 years in south Palm Beach County she traveled extensively in the U.S. and Europe, particularly enjoying Italy; was a member of the Hospice Guild of South Palm Beach County; and enjoyed card games with the ladies at St. Andrews Club and The Little Club.
“We have gotten literally hundreds of messages pouring in from all over the place,” said son Jamie Titcomb, the town manager of South Palm Beach. “My mom was very influential in her effect on every person she met.
“Other people would call her ‘Mom.’ She had the ability to make everybody heard and listened to, give them sage advice, and everybody came away feeling enriched by the experience.”
Mrs. Titcomb is survived by husband, Ray, sisters Barbara and Lois, sons Jeffrey, Brooks, Jamie and Gordon, eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Per her wishes, there will be no funeral, but a celebration of life will be held on a date to be determined.
“If you knew her, you loved her … and she loved you too!” her son Gordon wrote in a Facebook post.
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