Carolyn Sue Holm died on March 30, 2026, in Eugene, Oregon, at the age of 78.
Born Carolyn Sue Vinson, she lived a life centered on learning,
family, friendship, and faith. She graduated from Trigg County High
School in Cadiz, Kentucky, and went on to Murray State University,
where she earned an undergraduate degree, a master’s degree, and
completed advanced graduate coursework in education.
Carolyn devoted much of her professional life to teaching speech and
literature, spending most of her career at Shawnee Community College
in Ullin, Illinois. She also taught at Shawnee High School in Southern
Illinois and Hopkinsville High School in Western Kentucky. She loved
literature, language, and ideas, and she shared those gifts generously
with her students for over 30 years.
She was a faithful member of St. Matthew By the Lake ELCA Lutheran
Church in Benton, Kentucky, and Emmaus ELCA Lutheran Church in Eugene,
Oregon.
She is survived by her sister, Anne Vinson Wamser of Raleigh, North
Carolina; her son, David Leonard Bradley IV, and his wife, Carolyn
Bradley, of Cheshire, Connecticut, and their daughters, Allison
Bradley and Katherine Bradley; her son, John Vinson Bradley, and his
wife, Annie Cole-Bradley, of Eugene, Oregon, and their children, Anna
Bradley and Isaac Bradley; her stepdaughter, Kim Giltner, and her
husband, Brian Giltner, of Metropolis, Illinois, and their children
Zachary Giltner and Madison Giltner; and her stepson, Kris Holm, and
his wife, Regina Holm, of Paducah, Kentucky, and their children
Catherine Holm, Lily Holm, and Cooper Holm. Carolyn is also survived
by her lifelong friend, Robert Collie of Fairdealing, Kentucky.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Ted Holm; her brother,
John Robert Vinson III; her mother, Doris Peal Vinson; and her father,
John Robert “Jack” Vinson Jr.
A local service will be held in Eugene, Oregon, with a memorial in
Kentucky to follow at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be
made in Carolyn’s memory to Hosea Youth Services, 834 Monroe Street,
Eugene, OR 97402, phone (541) 344-5583, or online at hoseayouth.org.
The family is grateful for the love, prayers, and kindness shown
during this time.
