Jane Carl

Jane Linda Carl (Age 81), legendary high school teacher of Social Studies and English to hundreds of students, died Friday, December 9, 2022 at INOVA Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax, VA of an ischemic stroke. Born in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania in 1941, she was the only child of the late Chick C. Mellott and D. Hazel (Kauffman) Mellott. Jane was a SASHS graduate with the Class of 1959. In high school she was active in band and orchestra and was yearbook assistant editor. She received her bachelor’s degree from the Shippensburg University in 1962 and later completed her masters in political science from Penn State. She married her high school sweetheart, Lester W. Carl, now CAPT. USN (RET) in September 1963, and began her Navy wife adventure at Pensacola, Florida. Jane first taught at Esperanza Middle School at Patuxent River, MD in 1965, and later taught in San Jose, CA before moving to Fairfax County in 1974.

Jane Carl was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She raised two sons, Dennis and Kevin Carl, while balancing the demands of a navy wife with those of a high school social studies career teacher. She served mostly in the Fairfax County’s Hayfield Senior High School, where she taught from 1981, until retiring in 2005 as Chairman of the Social Studies Department. She taught many subjects, including English, reading, history and government, and she taught all levels of students, including AP (Advanced Placement). She was a consummate professional and an exceptional teacher who loved teaching U.S government.

In addition, Jane was a mentor to many teachers, who learned from her and were often in her classroom benefitting from her creative teaching methods. As the Chair of the Social Studies Department at Hayfield, Jane was a leader and a bridge between her department and the administrators. After retirement, Jane continued to teach and motivate students as a substitute teacher both at Madison High School and other local High Schools, until 2018. Jane Carl was a model teacher. She had a soft spot for the law and especially enjoyed teaching the U.S. court system as a sponsor of the Model Judiciary Program at her school. She enriched the lives of hundreds of students during her career and proudly followed their life’s accomplishments after graduation. She was nominated as Fairfax County’s Teacher of the Year for 2002.

Jane Carl was a civic minded and willing volunteer outside of school, serving as a Boy Scout counselor and cub master; community association board member, president, and neighborhood watch coordinator; deacon and elder in her church; and was a supporter of many civic and environmental causes. . She was also a wonderful “Navy Wife,” providing friendship, assistance, advice and wise counsel to peer spouses of any command members. She was especially valuable as a family support advocate for navy wives facing the challenges of their navy husband’s deployments. Jane was always willing to help.

As a child growing up in Shippensburg, her friend Lei Lani says Jane liked playing sports of all kinds and preferred challenging the boys in sports to “dolls and girly stuff.” Jane was quietly competitive and wickedly smart! Lei Lani says she learned not to play marbles with Jane because she would always lose all her marbles. As an adult, Jane had a lifelong interest in sports and knew all the rules for baseball, hockey, football and tennis. Also, Jane learned volunteering at a young age by going by the town library often, on the way home from school. She got her friend to volunteer, helping to put books away. As a reward, the librarian gave both girls preferential access to all the books. She credits Jane for their shared lifelong love of reading.

Jane’s favorite and most cherished title is that of “GRANDMA.” She had an enduring concern and love for her three granddaughters, Shelby, Lauren and Kirsten. She was so very proud of their achievements both in and out of school, and she doted over their awards, academic grades and personal accomplishments.

In retirement, she loved gardening, traveling, reading, attending Esther Circle and Book Club at church, and family activities. Jane’s biggest challenge arrived in 2020 when she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease which advanced rapidly, impacting many aspects of her life. She fought valiantly with prescribed physical, speech, and occupational therapies but was confined to a transport chair by mid-2022. Her stroke on December 5th in the middle of the night was devastating, and she could not recover from it. She leaves behind her husband Lester, of 59 years; two sons, Dennis and Kevin; three granddaughters, Shelby, Lauren and Kirsten; two sisters-in-law Doris Holtry (Jerry) and Mary Kitzmiller (Johnny; deceased); and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Jane was a regular attender of the Mellott Family Reunion held annually on July 4th at Shippensburg Memorial Park.

Memorial services will be held on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at 2:00PM at Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home and Crematorium, 112 West King Street, Shippensburg, PA. 17257. The Reverend Henry Brinton will officiate. Visitation begins at 1:00 pm. Food and refreshments will be available afterwards at University Grille, 32 E. King St., Shippensburg, PA 17257. Private graveside services will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation. The online guestbook is available at www.Fogelsanger-BrickerFuneralHome.com.