Neely, Carol Polandick

Carol Polandick Neely, 74, of Blacksburg, devoted wife, mother, and friend, died on August 21, 2013. Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., to the late Herman and Elizabeth Polandick, she was preceded in death by brother, Donald, and was, for 50 years, the loving wife of William C. Neely, also of Blacksburg, who survives. She is also survived by two children, Beth of Fort Worth, Texas, and David, of Lynchburg; grandson, William Carlton Clauser, also of Fort Worth; sisters-in-law, Carole Davis, of Cannonsburg, Pa., and Sarah Neely, of Amherst, Mass.; and brother-in-law, Thomas Neely, of Waban, Mass., in addition to six nieces and nephews. Carol earned a bachelor of music degree from Westminster College in Pennsylvania, and for several years thereafter taught music in New York schools. She was always an active singer, both in nine different church choirs and in several community- based choral groups, most recently the Blacksburg Master Chorale from 1995 to 2010. She loved beauty-the beauty of marvelous music, well performed; the beauty of the well-crafted word; the beauty of the natural world, with flowers and beaches ranking high; the beauty of friendships old and new, but especially those that endured over decades and distance; the beauty of caring, generous people, so many of whom supported her through her final days. Carol was a thankful and committed Christian, an ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church USA and performed several leadership and service roles at Blacksburg Presbyterian Church. A Memorial Service celebrating Carol’s life will be held at the church, 701 Church Street, Blacksburg, at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, September 10, 2013. Those wishing to make gifts honoring her life may wish to consider Westminster College, Office of Institutional Advancement, 319 South Market Street, New Wilmington, PA 16172, for eventual application in the college’s department of music or Blacksburg Presbyterian Church, 701 Church Street, SE, Blacksburg, VA 24060, to support the church’s music and arts initiatives.