Caroline Upperco

Julia Caroline Eagerton Upperco, beloved daughter, wife, mother, teacher, and friend, died on October 20, 2026 in Wilson, North Carolina, just six days before her 95th birthday.

A funeral service will be held in the chapel at First United Methodist Church, Wilson, NC, on Friday, October 30 at 2:00 pm, followed by visitation. At a later date, a graveside service followed by burial beside her husband will be held at Columbia Gardens Cemetery, Arlington VA.

Caroline’s superpower was her love of and interest in people; she befriended scores from all walks of life and countries of origin, and she nurtured and maintained those relationships across the years with childhood friends, work colleagues, and more recent acquaintances alike. Her profound enjoyment in working with teenagers led to a long career as a junior high and high school math teacher, unofficial counselor, youth Sunday school teacher, and mentor to many of her own children’s friends in need of a sympathetic ear and a gentle, guiding hand.

Caroline was born in Orangeburg, SC on October 26, 1931, the younger daughter of Beulah Baughman Eagerton and William Marion Eagerton. When she was five, her family moved to Summerville, SC, where she spent her childhood. Following high school graduation, she earned an AB degree in French from Wesleyan College in Macon, GA in 1953; subsequently, she spent a year and a half teaching French and mathematics at her alma mater in Summerville. She then enrolled at the University of Denver, where she received a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Guidance. Upon graduation in 1955, she moved to Arlington, VA for a job teaching math at Wakefield High School. It was in Arlington that she met her future husband of 61 years, Jesse Robert Upperco, on what she called “the best blind date ever!” In the early years after their 1957 marriage, they lived in Arkansas, Illinois, Virginia, and Ohio before re-settling in Arlington, Virginia, until their move to Wilson, NC in 2008 to be near their daughter, Ann, and her family.

Caroline’s faith was important to her; she was a lifelong Methodist and an active member of the United Methodist Church wherever she lived, serving in a variety of capacities. She became a member of First United Methodist Church along with husband Jesse after moving to Wilson.

Attending Girl’s State as a high school student and participating in the Washington, D.C. Student Citizenship Seminar while in college sparked her interest in government and politics. She became an active member of the League of Women Voters in Columbus, Ohio and in Arlington, VA and served in several leadership roles with the organization.

Caroline taught math to home-bound students in Arlington while her children were in elementary school. Once they were older, she resumed teaching math at a variety of junior and senior high schools in Arlington, eventually returning full-circle to teaching at Wakefield High School where she began. One of her special duties and privileges there was to work with incoming immigrant students to the DC area from war-torn countries, many of whom spoke no English, placing them in the proper math classes or in many cases, teaching them one-on-one in the remedial math skills center. She retired from the Arlington Public Schools in 1992, and shortly after, taught math as a volunteer at the Arlington Pregnancy Center. She also spent many happy years traveling with her husband on numerous trips throughout the US, Canada, and Europe.

Caroline will be deeply missed. She is survived by her son Don Upperco and his wife, Trish, of Fredericksburg, VA; daughter Ann Dolman and her husband Dave, of Wilson; grandchildren Noelle Upperco and Ethan Upperco, both of Fredericksburg, VA; Dane Upperco of Chicago, IL; Caroline Dolman Herlin and husband Peter of Austin, Texas; and Elena Dolman Ahrenholz and husband Matt of Winston-Salem, NC; as well as six great-granddaughters: Kate Herlin, Betsy Herlin, Lucy Ahrenholz, Eliza Ahrenholz, Ava Upperco, and Scottie Upperco, all born within the last two years. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Esther Upperco Gay and her husband, Bob, of Williamsburg, VA; as well as a niece and five nephews and their families.

Caroline was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jesse; and her sister, Katharine Eagerton Morgan.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Caroline to First United Methodist Church, PO Box 1423, Wilson, NC 27893.

Arrangements by Wilson Memorial Service, 2811 Fieldstream Dr N, Wilson, (252) 237-7171; www.wilsonmemorialservice.com