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Carolyn Anne Richards MacFarlane, 67, of Leesburg, VA, passed away suddenly at Inova Loudon Hospital on July 23, 2025. She was born to Alden and Mary Jo (Thompson) Richards on April 27, 1958, in Baltimore, MD.

Carolyn grew up in a number of places, following her father's itchy foot, from MD to CT to ME, then MD again, before moving to New Brunswick, Canada in 1972. She graduated from Saint John Vocational High School as a secretary and worked in that job for a couple of years. Feeling the need for more, she joined the U.S. Army in 1978 and first became a Behavioral Science Technician, then a Nuclear Medicine Technician. She was stationed in many places, including GA, CA, and Germany, having many adventures and making many friends along the way. While on active duty and afterwards, she earned an AS in Nuclear Medicine Technology from George Washington University, a BS in Biology from the State University of NY and an MS in Clinical Practice Management from George Washington University.

After 8 years in the Army, Carolyn moved back to the East Coast and lived in ME for several years, working as a nuclear medical technologist. She took a six month break from Nuclear Medicine in 1990 to help care for her six month old nephew, Aaron, in VA. She used her time to also work on a six-month accelerated certificate in Computer Science Technology, thinking to change careers. Finding computer science not to her taste, she sought to further her career in nuclear medicine, and, in 1999, she began her career at the American College of Radiology in VA. At the ACR, Carolyn worked her way up to program management and performed facility reviews and reviewer training. Her successful career ended in 2021, when she retired.

In 2000, she met and fell in love with John MacFarlane. They shared many pastimes, including travel, golf and playing pool. They married in 2002 in Alexandria, VA. Over the years, they traveled extensively, had an active social life and were devoted to their pets.

Carolyn had many interests, including cooking, gardening, reading, and animal welfare. She regularly rescued cats and contributed greatly to the Loudon County Animal Shelter. She was always available to her family and friends for a chat, some advice, or to just have a glass of wine and a few laughs with. She was a much loved daughter, sister, wife and friend and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Carolyn is pre-deceased by her parents and is survived by her husband, John MacFarlane, her siblings, JoAnnette (Jonathan) Grisham, Shickshinny, PA, Teresa (Michael) Fox, Pasadena, MD, Timothy (Linda) Richards, Milton Mills, NH and Candace Richards, Colorado Springs, CO, as well as many other extended family members.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Loudon County Animal Shelter.

A memorial will be held on August 14 at 1pm at the Colonial Funeral Home, 201 Edwards Ferry Rd, NE, Leesburg, VA.