Carol E. Green

Carol Ellen Green eased away from this life Wednesday morning March 4th, 2026 in the care of Hospice at Avante of Orlando. She leaves behind her sister Ann (Elmer Sbach) and her brother Robert along with her nephew William Sbach (Malia) and their sons Theo and Sam as well as her Aunt Betty Green and cousins, her Uncle Del and Aunt Tina Greer and cousins, and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Alice Green, and nephew, Robert Sbach.

Carol was a fifth generation San Franciscan and spent her early life there. She was born with a dislocated hip and complications and spent more than a year in bed as a child in a body cast in traction. As a teenager, she underwent more surgery to align her legs. Perhaps confinement was what made her determined to create her own way in life. Childhood centered on St. John’s Lutheran School punctuated by picnics at Golden Gate Park and vacations to the Santa Cruz mountains, Russian River, and Napa Valley. When she was nine and Ann was thirteen, their brother Robert was born. Now there were three.

Carol was a free spirit who constantly reinvented herself. In the late 60’s/early 70s she was drawn to the Haight Ashbury and for a time worked at the Matrix, a nightclub founded by the Jefferson Airplane, where she met rock groups. A favorite was the psychedelic rock music of the Grateful Dead whom she’d spent time with. She also loved Bob Dylan and the Beatles, particularly John Lennon (she saw them live). When Lennon died, she and her brother Robert posed in front of the Dakota to commemorate his assassination.

Archaeology always intrigued her and she participated in digs in the ancient city of Tel-Dan, Israel which found the first historical evidence of King David from the Bible. She always treasured this experience.

She left San Francisco and relocated to Michigan to be close to Ann who was teaching there and enrolled in the University of Michigan earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in archaeology in 1981.

Then she was off to Florida and another new life, this time in Corrections. She worked as a Senior Community Corrections Officer for Orange County from 1988-1994. As a probation officer, she traveled around Florida giving lectures and was nominated for Probation Officer of the Year/State of Florida in 1993.

But she always enjoyed sewing and particularly the costuming of 1920s movie stars. So she left Corrections and of course opened and operated a vintage clothing store. The Pink Flamingo was her joy for five years. Her favorite time of year was spring and dressing high school seniors for the prom. She especially enjoyed showing off to her family as an independent businesswoman.

After selling the Pink Flamingo, she returned to Corrections and worked as a Communications Officer/dispatcher at the communications center for the Orange County Sherrif’s Office. Three times she received awards as Communications Center Employee of the Month. This was a job she enjoyed in particular and made good friends there.

In 2010 she joined AA and, once again, was very active and made close friends. She was proud of receiving her 16th year sobriety chip.

Retirement didn’t slow her down. She returned to costuming, learning camera work, lighting, and model display to sell vintage clothing on eBay.

Together she and Ann visited their dad in North Carolina regularly. They traveled to England where she delighted in viewing the archaeological findings at the British Museum. And, more recently, they visited San Francisco to see relatives, return to places where they’d lived in the Haight, the Mission, and the Castro. They enjoyed the hustle of Fisherman’s Wharf and cable cars, and indulged in their most favorite food in the world - Dungeness crab.

She loved her family and mourned the loss of her nephew Rob who died at age 28. Her grandnephews, Theo and Sam, became her joy.

Carol’s friends describe her as an awesome inspiration, one of a kind, sweet and spunky, a happy gentle soul and spiritual, sassy, loving and kind. She would appreciate that kind of love. Deep thanks to Lonette, Stephanie, and Emily for their gentle caring of Carol and to her friends Lorraine, Amy, Sharon and those at AA and the Comm Center. She’ll live in our hearts.

An informal celebration of her life will take place at 6pm Friday, March 20 at Newcomer Funeral Home Orlando, 895 S Goldenrod Rd, Orlando