Carole Deptula

Carole Dawn Deptula, 80, of Nacogdoches, passed away on March 7, 2026. Born on July 30, 1945, in Chicago, Illinois, to Marion and Bertha Mathews, Carole grew up surrounded by music. Her mother’s singing and piano playing sparked a lifelong passion that shaped her from an early age. She began formal piano lessons in fourth grade, won a piano concerto contest in high school, performed with the DuPage Symphony, and took up the viola. Though offered a scholarship to the American Conservatory of Music, she chose instead to attend Ambassador College in Pasadena, California, later completing her studies in Big Sandy, Texas.

During her college years, Carole’s life revolved around recitals, voice study, and accompanying choirs. It was there she met the love of her life, Walter Deptula. They married on October 27, 1968, and later settled in East Texas, where Walter pursued his piano tuning career. In 1976, they opened a Kawai piano dealership and full-line music store in Nacogdoches. Carole taught violin and piano from her home studio, earned a master’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1998, accompanied the Nacogdoches High School choir, and taught strings in several East Texas communities as well as music history and theory at Angelina College.

Above all, Carole cherished raising their four children and nurturing their love of music. In retirement, she remained deeply involved in the musical life of her community, performing and singing with Fairview Methodist Church, Oak Manor Nursing Home, the Nacogdoches Treatment Center, New Hope Singers, Raguet Strings, Project String Power, Heart of the Pines Chorus, SFA Cello Club, East Texas Praise Symphony, Lufkin Community Band, and a string quartet that played at weddings. The Heart of the Pines Chorus and the Sweet Adelines held a particularly special place in her heart, offering both beautiful music and a cherished sisterhood.

Carole is survived by her devoted husband of more than 57 years, Walter Deptula; their children, Austin Deptula and wife Bethany, Benji Deptula, Jonathan Deptula and wife Anastacia, and Kimberly Jacobs and husband Dexter; and her beloved grandchildren, Mathew, Abrielle, Eliana, Malakai, Rowan, Aridaia, Kaylee, and Jennea. She was preceded in death by her parents, Marion Miles and Bertha Merkner Mathews, and her brother, Freddie Mathews.