Carole J. Dumbleton

Carole Jean Dumbleton, age 92, passed away on December 10, 2025. She was a resident of Sebring, Florida, for 64 years. Carole was born on December 25, 1932, in Wausau, Nebraska, to Lawrence and Blanche Backhaus. As a young child, her family moved to Washta, Iowa, where she grew up on a farm. She attended Grand Meadow School and graduated in 1950. During her high school years, she was a cheerleader and played basketball.  After graduation, Carole moved to San Diego, California, where she taught school. While there, she met her future husband, Albert “Al” Dumbleton, who was serving in the U.S. Navy. They were married on June 30, 1956, in Kingsley, Iowa. They lived in New York for several years before moving to Wayne, Nebraska, where Carole completed her education. She graduated from Wayne State Teachers College with a bachelor’s degree in education.Carole taught for a couple of years in Lester, Iowa, before moving to Sebring, Florida, in the summer of 1962. She was a stay-at-home mother for several years and operated a daycare from her home for about five years before returning to teaching.She taught kindergarten at E.O. Douglas School, Woodlawn Elementary, and Park Elementary. Carole dedicated a total of 32 years to teaching before retiring in 1995. During her career, she served as head kindergarten teacher and was a longtime member of Delta Kappa Gamma, serving as secretary for many years.After retirement, Carole and Al traveled extensively throughout the United States in their fifth wheel with the Avion Travel Group, where she also served on the welcoming committee. They also traveled to Spain, backpacked through Europe, and visited Hawaii several times.Carole was a past member of the Junior Women’s Club in Sebring and was a member of St. Catherine’s Catholic Church and later Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church. She loved to sew and volunteered countless hours sewing activity bags for hospitalized children and bibs for daycare centers.Carole lived a full and meaningful life and was well known for her baking, especially her chocolate chip cookies. She was always friendly, kind, and welcoming and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.Carole is survived by her daughters, Ann Dumbleton Freeze (Skip) and Kathi Calton Borecky; seven grandsons, Justin Dumbleton (Amanda), Adam Dumbleton (Julie), Jeffery Dumbleton (Paige), Nicklas Freeze, Jonathan Freeze, Carlton Borecky (Allie), and Chadd Borecky; step-granddaughter Brittany Freeze; five great-granddaughters, Dalila, Aubrey, Miley, Madison, Miranda, and Brynlee; three great-grandsons, Leroy, Grant, and Benjamin; her brother, Dale Backhaus (Joann); and several nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Albert Dumbleton; her sons, Alan, Brian, and Craig “Buzz” Dumbleton; and her sisters, Avis and Lila.Viewing and visitation will take place at Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at 10:00 a.m, followed by a service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Lakeview Memorial Gardens.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice in Sebring.

Arrangements are entrusted to Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home, 4001 Sebring Parkway, Sebring, Florida 33870. Online condolences may be left at stephensonnelsonfh.com.