Carol Lee Hines

Carol Lee Hines, a vibrant soul full of creativity, passed away peacefully on October 10, 2025, in her hometown of Columbus, Ohio. She was 71.

Carol was preceded in death by her loving parents, Joan (Rapp) Hines and Delbert Hines Jr. She is survived by her brothers, Dave Hines and Dennis (Cheryl) Hines; nieces Jessica Hines and Melissa Hines-Antico (Jay), and her Great-nieces Lily and Amelia Antico. She also leaves behind her beloved dog, Remy, who was her constant companion and source of joy.

Carol dedicated over 30 years of her life to education, retiring from the South-Western City School District where she served as an Intervention Specialist. Her career began in Virginia, working with students with special needs—a calling she embraced with extraordinary patience, empathy, and an uncanny ability to reach those who needed her most. Carol's legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched, especially those of her most challenging students, who found in her a champion and a safe harbor.

Beyond the classroom, Carol was a passionate and endlessly curious artist. She explored a wide range of mediums—from polymer clay and copper enameling to stained glass, bookbinding, ceramics, jewelry making, and encaustics. She was a member of both the Columbus and Dayton Polymer Clay Guilds and continued to expand her artistic horizons through classes in photography and Photoshop at Columbus State. Her home was a sanctuary of creativity, filled with plants she lovingly tended and art she joyfully created.

Carol had a free spirit and a heart that beat to its own rhythm. She was, in every sense, a hippy at heart—adventurous, authentic and bold. She was broadminded and audacious, a nature lover who found peace in Florida's sunshine and delight in spoiling Remy rotten. She lived life on her own terms, embracing each day with curiosity and courage.

To know Carol was to witness someone truly original—unapologetically herself, delightfully unconventional, and always guided by her own inner compass. The world was brighter for her presence, and her spirit will continue to inspire those she loved and taught.

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