A. Caroline (Carol) Hatcher
Our Carol passed away peacefully in her sleep at Oak Cottage Memory Care on May 21st, 2026, at the age of 92 after a difficult journey through dementia. She was born in Darby, Pennsylvania to parents Henry and Agnes Caroline Biller.
Her childhood was filled with fun and laughter alongside her siblings, Charlie, Elizabeth, and Ruth. Popular at Darby High School, she was known for her humor, mischievous nature and athletic abilities, though not for being particularly studious! She enjoyed being on the cheerleading team, even becoming varsity head cheerleader during her senior year. During this time, too, she developed a keen interest and talent for ice skating; so much so that she dreamed of becoming a professional skater like the ones she watched in skating events she loved to attend.
Alas, professional ice skating was not in her future as life instead moved on to include working for the Bell Telephone Company, a marriage, and starting a family. Ultimately, after her marriage ended, Carol, along with her infant son, Sean, moved to Santa Barbara where her brother, Charlie Sr. and sister-in-law, Margie resided with their son and daughter, Charlie Jr., and Mary Lou.
She quickly found work at the Santa Barbara News-Press, followed later by accepting a position with Santa Barbara Research (which became Hughes Aircraft), from which she ultimately retired in 1998. Life during her working years was augmented by the many sports that revolved around her son, Sean, a gifted athlete, be it surfing (his first love), soccer, baseball, or football. Carol was always part of the carpool and on the sidelines resurrecting her cheerleading skills. Though not a confident driver, she became the A-number one driver for Sean and his surfing friends with many excursions for sun and surfing at the Rincon. Once it became evident that she had no idea how to maintain a car, she found how easy it was to get around town on the Santa Barbara MTD and became a “regular”, knowing many of the drivers by name. Soon after, once she discovered the Santa Barbara Airbus and their variety of day (and longer) trips, there was no stopping her! She quickly became friends with the Airbus trip docents, Christine and Tilly, and enjoyed doing whatever she could to help them out. The Airbus, too, gave her the chance to cheer on the Phillies whenever they were “in town” playing the Dodgers.
Her friends knew all they had to do was to ask, “would you like to…..” and before finishing the sentence, Carol had already said “YES”! Travelling with friends, she happily enjoyed not only the Airbus trips, but also cruises, riverboat journeys or tours to Alaska, the Panama Canal, Russia, and Ireland as well as trips closer to home in the U.S. and Canada. Approaching 90, Carol announced she wanted to go ziplining one more time, and so she did! A trip to Santa Margarita for ziplining down the mountainside and over the vineyards was definitely in order! When she wasn’t traveling or ziplining, she was a favorite for taking good care of friend’s cats or dogs while they were away. Soon, as word of mouth spread, Carol found that she had accidentally started a business.
Carol was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, Elizabeth Biller, and Ruth Lorup, her sister-in-law, Margie Biller, as well as by her son, Sean Hatcher who passed away in 1997.
She is survived by her brother, Charlie Biller Sr., her nieces, Mary Fagaragan, Beverly DiSciascio, and Carol Landis, and nephews Charlie Biller Jr, and Ross Lorup as well as many grandnieces and grandnephews.
Her family and longtime friends, Bonnie Ladd and Lynette Patters are so very grateful for, and in awe of, the patient and gentle loving care Carol was given by the amazing caregivers and staff at Oak Cottage Memory Care (especially Felipe Garcia and Kimberly Hogan (who shares not only Carol’s birthday, but also her birthplace!), and by Hospice nurse, Shannon Hemphill.
An informal gathering for Carol will be announced at a later date.
