Our Carol passed away peacefully in her sleep at Oak Cottage Memory Care on May 21, 2026, at the age of 92 after a difficult journey through dementia.

A. Caroline ‘Carol’ Hatcher 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, Carol 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, she developed a keen interest and talent for ice skating; so much so that she dreamed of becoming a professional skater like the ones 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 lived with their son and daughter Charlie Jr. and Mary Lou.

Carol 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 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 its 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 travel with and help them out.

The Airbus also gave her the chance to cheer on the Phillies whenever they were “in town” playing the Dodgers.

Carol’s 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 tours on cruises or riverboats 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 zip lining one more time, and so she did. A trip to Santa Margarita for zip lining down the mountainside and over the vineyards was definitely in order.

When she wasn’t traveling or zip lining, Carol was a favorite for taking good care of friends’ cats or dogs while they were away. Soon, as word of mouth spread, Carol found she had accidentally started a business.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Elizabeth Biller and Ruth Lorup; and 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.; 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 in remembrance of Carol is being planned.