Carolyn Faye Tunnell Patty was born July 1, 1933, in Clinton, OK, to Floyd and Mable Tunnell. Carolyn was raised in a Christian home and grew up as a pastor’s kid along with her three brothers, Bob, Don, and Paul. 

At six years old, Carolyn received her first piano lesson in Shelbyville, IN. A piano teacher, trying to make ends meet in a post-WWII world, approached her father, offering two piano lessons for the price of one for two of his children. Her father wisely asked if his daughter, Carolyn, could receive both piano lessons for the $0.50 fee. While it was immediately helpful to begin playing at her father’s church services, Carolyn’s skill and love for the instrument blossomed extraordinarily as she grew into a professional musician, while never losing her wonder and delight in music as she played nearly every day of her life. Once, when asked how she knew what to play when she sat at the piano in her later life, she warmly replied, “The piano always tells me.”

Carolyn moved a lot as a pastor’s kid, but she eventually found herself in Anderson, IN, attending Anderson College and, yet again, playing piano at her father’s church, East Side Church of God. It was there she met the great love of her life. A new freshman, Ron Patty, joined the church choir, and the story goes that she commented to someone in the choir as she played the piano for the rehearsal, “Who is that tenor who can actually get his own part?” They soon began dating and married on June 5, 1953, in Anderson, IN. Carolyn and Ron immediately began serving local churches, with Ron as the Minister of Music and Carolyn on the piano bench, in Indiana, Oklahoma, Arizona, and California.

Instilling her great passion for music into her three children, Sandi, Mike, and Craig, the Ron Patty Family Singers were born as they traveled and sang in churches across the country for over a decade. When Sandi, Mike, and Craig began to step into their own musical professions, Carolyn and Ron continued their ministry to churches nationwide for more than 20 years, blessing countless churches. While ministering to churches was a heartbeat for Carolyn and Ron, their talents also allowed them to perform for audiences such as George H. W. Bush and family at Camp David, Bill Glass Crusade events, Billy Graham’s The Cove retreats, and a concert with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

Carolyn’s rich legacy certainly includes her music and ministry, and yet her deep love for her family remained paramount. As her eleven grandchildren emerged on the scene, Carolyn and Ron, affectionately known as Nana and Papa, devoted themselves to being present forces in their daily lives while continuing to travel as opportunities arose. Their legacy of love further expanded to include their beloved 13 great-grandchildren. 

In July of this year, all of Carolyn’s immediate family and close lifelong friends came together for a beautiful celebration honoring her and Ron’s 70th wedding anniversary and their 90th birthdays, which were a mere one day apart. Carolyn and Ron often commented that they both loved each other and liked each other throughout their 70 years together, and their love story was indeed one for the ages.

At this celebration, she performed a remarkable arrangement of Andre Crouch’s “To God Be the Glory,” with perfectly unexpected nods to her favorite classical composers–Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Haydn–woven throughout. And, in a way that only the God who created her could orchestrate, this performance took place in south Indianapolis, IN, just minutes away from Shelbyville, where her musical journey began.

On Tuesday, August 22, 2023, Carolyn peacefully moved to Heaven, surrounded by her loving family. Her entire family is filled with gratitude to have had the privilege of 90 years with this amazing woman. 

In the same way she would conclude many conversations, the only fitting finale is Carolyn’s memorable phrase, “I love you today.”

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The family has chosen to have a private celebration of life service, sharing stories and songs together. Ron and the family appreciate your continued love, prayers, and support.

We invite you to share your story about how Carolyn has impacted your life on the Caring Bridge site:  https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/carolynpattytribute

Should you wish to write a card, please send it to:

Family of Carolyn Patty

PO Box 160 

Noblesville, IN 46061

Carolyn asked that instead of flowers or gifts, please send donations to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s annual Yuletide Celebration, which will allow others the experience of a world-class live performance that Carolyn loved dearly. 

You can make a donation gift by calling the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Development Office at 317-262-1100 ext. 6728 and note that you are making a donation in memory of Carolyn Patty for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s annual Yuletide Celebration. 

You can also make a donation gift online at indianapolissymphony.org/donate/contribute (or directly by clicking HERE). When making a donation online, please select the following:

Gift Designation: ISO Individual Annual Fund Donation

Tribute Gift: This gift is in memory of:

Memory of (if selected above): Carolyn Patty

Notificant Name: Sandi Patty
Why I donate to the ISO: Yuletide Celebration in memory of Carolyn Patty

NOTE: all other fields are optional on the online donation form