Carolyn (VanTyle) Leming

Carolyn (VanTyle) Baldwin Leming, 88 of Rising Sun, Indiana passed away on September 8, 2026 at the Ridgewood Health Campus in Lawrenceburg, IN. She is the daughter of the late Oren and Annetta VanTyle. She graduated from Patriot High School in 1956. Following graduation she married Grover Elmo Baldwin, was blessed with a 47 year marriage and  five children: Denny, Brenda, Julie, Mary, and Kathy, 19 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.  Together they built a family in which Carolyn's love, faith, music, and devotion to others became a lasting legacy.

Carolyn was an only child who was blessed with a God-given gift for music. From a very young age, she began playing the piano, and during her teenage years she added the accordion to her musical talents. Throughout her life, Carolyn shared this gift generously with others, using music as a way to bring happiness, comfort, and fellowship to those around her.

Her love of music and her faith went hand in hand. Carolyn served as the organist and pianist at First Baptist Church and Bethel Unity Baptist Church. She especially enjoyed playing for the children during summer Vacation Bible Schools, where her music became a familiar and joyful part of their experience.

In 2004, Carolyn met John Leming through a fellow musician and they married in 2005.  Their shared love of music quickly brought them together, and Carolyn and John played in a band until his passing in 2009. John's violin, along with Carolyn's piano and accordion talents, took them throughout Southeastern Indiana and Kentucky, where they shared their music with audiences and made many memories along the way.

Carolyn's musical accomplishments were recognized when she was inducted into the Southeastern Indiana Music Association's Hall of Fame in October 2009. This honor reflected not only her musical ability, but also the many years she had devoted to sharing her gift with others.

In 2010, Carolyn organized a group of ladies and formed the Kitchen Band. The group quickly became much more than a band. It brought old friends together, created new friendships, and gave Carolyn and the other ladies an opportunity to share laughter, fellowship, and music. The Kitchen Band traveled to area nursing homes, bringing smiles and joy to the residents they visited. When the COVID-19 pandemic brought the band's activities to a halt, Carolyn deeply missed the opportunity to gather with the ladies and, most of all, to bring music and happiness to others. Sharing her music with people was never simply something Carolyn did—it was a part of who she was.

When Carolyn moved to Ridgewood in March 2026, she was still able to share her love of music with her fellow residents. She brought the same joy and fellowship through her music that she had shared with others throughout her life. Even near the end of her life, music remained an important part of who Carolyn was. She last played the accordion just five days prior to her passing. Carolyn's love of music did not stop with performing. She passed that love down to all of her children, creating a musical legacy that will continue through the generations.

Carolyn is survived by her five children: Dennis Baldwin (Connie), Brenda Selmeyer (Dave), Julie Wade (Jim), Mary Bailey (Garry), Kathy Baldwin along with 19 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Oren and Annetta VanTyle, her husband Grover Elmo Baldwin, husband John Leming, son-in-law Garry Bailey and great grandchild Levi Bankson. 

Public visitation will be 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, Saturday, September 12, 2026 at Markland Funeral Home in Rising Sun, IN. Funeral services will follow at 1:00 PM. Burial will be on Monday, September 14 at 10:00 at Highland Cemetery in Fort Mitchell, KY. Memorial donations may be made to Ridgewood Health Campus Activity Fund.

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