Carol went home to Jesus on April 11, 2026 at the age of 88. She was born to Jack and Magie Lee Ross on February 23, 1938 in Lookeba, Oklahoma.
Carol grew up in Dos Palos, California and after high school moved to San Jose to live and work with friends. Carol met her husband, Kenneth Zelmer in 1960 at a poolside barbeque in the apartment complex where she lived in San Jose, California. They were engaged after only two weeks of dating, married shortly after and went on to have two children, Steve and Chris. After raising her two boys and working in San Jose for 30 years, Ken and Carol retired and moved to Lake Tulloch, Ca. The retirement years at the lake house with frequent visits from children and grandchildren were the best years of their life. Carol would say, "The years at the lake were like a dream."
In addition to being a mother, grandmother (Nana) and great–grandmother (Great–Nana), she also enjoyed various volunteer roles and staying actively involved in the Copperopolis Historical Society, the Red Hat Society and Lake Tulloch Bible Church. Carol and Ken also enjoyed square dancing with a group of friends from the Lake Tulloch area and traveled to events around California with their square–dancing club. They also traveled to various places around the world.
Carol joins her loving husband Ken of sixty years, her parents Jack and Magie, brother JD and sisters Jo Helen and Betty in Heaven. She is survived by her sister Shirley, sons Steve (and Patti) and Chris (and Jeanne), nine grandchildren, Jessica, Brandon, Tricia, Victoria, Paige, Shawn, Wyatt, William and EIias and nineteen great–grandchildren.
Carol fought the good fight. She finished the race. She kept the faith and passed it onto her children and children's children. Carol will be missed by many friends and family.
"See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared"
–Exodus 23:20
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 23rd at 10:30 am at Woodbridge in Manteca at the Del Webb Community Center 2401 Morning Brook Drive, Manteca
