Carl Lee Sibley, age 79, of Louisa, Virginia, passed away on Friday August 16th, 2024.

Born on May 29, 1945, in Norfolk, Virginia, Carl was the son of Calvin Levi Sibley Jr. and Loretta Reagan Matteson Sibley. Carl is survived by his devoted wife, Martina (Tina) Sibley, his favorite daughter, Cindy (Chris) Stipe; his cherished grandchildren, Tara Stipe, Dylan Stipe, Cody Stipe, and Katie (Dillion) Olinger; his beloved great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Barnes, Sutton and Sawyer Olinger, adopted “Mom”, Peggy Woodward, special cousin Mary Ellen and Rick Bauz, in-laws Phil and Rachel Anderson, Sheryl McNeive, and the darling dog he never thought he’d love, Nina.

Raised in Washington, D.C. and Fall Church, Virginia, Carl attended J.E.B. Stuart High School. Following high school Carl dedicated thirty-four years to the Pentagon as a computer specialist before retiring in 2001. Carl’s love story with Martina began at a model train show in Falls Church, Virginia, leading to a whirlwind romance and countless memories filled with fast cars, model trains, and family adventures over the next thirty-four years. 

Following his retirement, Carl and Martina relocated to Louisa, Virginia where they designed the house of their dreams and spent countless hours driving fast down every backroad in the county. Carl quickly found friends at the downtown Orange and Louisa McDonalds where the group engaged in debate and local politics. Tuesday and Friday afternoons found Carl with friends Bob, Benda, Lou, and Arlene, fellow car enthusiasts, that discovered each other at local cruise-ins.

A lover of old cars and hot rods, Carl was always tinkering and restoring classic cars, bringing them back to life and showcasing them at cruise-ins. His daily driver was a striking black with red pin stripes 1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe, his pride and joy.  Carl’s Disneyworld was going to Hot Rod Rehab in Madison, Virginia; sitting for hours watching Larry work his magic rehabbing classic cars. Carl was active in and served as the treasurer of the Orange County Cruisers since 2009 allowing him to share his love of mechanics, restoration, and vintage cars with anyone who would listen. In 2021 Carl and Martina joined the Blue Ridge Corvette Club where they continued their adventures and trips in the modern hot rod.

Carl’s basements were legendary among his family.  As soon as your feet hit the bottom of the stairs and the lights flooded the space, you were transported into a miniature world full of model trains, mountain passes, train yards, and rural towns filling the room. The grandchildren begged to go to the magical basement, donning matching conductor hats with Choo-Choo PopPop, and together drive the latest train through the picturesque landscapes; the “Choo-choo”s echoing together each time a train passed by. 

Carl’s last Cruise-In will begin with visitation at Noon and a memorial at 1:30 pm, Tuesday August 20, 2024 at Preddy’s Funeral Home in Gordonsville, Virginia.  Causal Cruise-In attire per Carl’s request. Following a short memorial and remembrance there will be a parade of cars to Maplewood Cemetery for a graveside service conducted by Ken Williams. Pallbearers are Chris Stipe, Dylan Stipe, Cody Stipe, Dillion Oligner, Larry Ledger, Tony Turner; Rick Bauz; honorary pallbearers are Phil Anderson, Jim Berger, and Henry Knauf.

In lieu of flowers, Carl requests that contributions be made to the Joslin Diabetes Center (https://giving.bilh.org/joslindiabetescenter) and Hospice of Piedmont (https://hopva.org/donate-online-now). A special thanks to the team at Martha Jefferson and Dr. Quillian who have supported Carl the past several years.

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Loretta Reagan Matteson Sibley

(April 8, 1915-January 3, 1995) was born to Bror Gottfred (Fred) and Estella (Stella) Reagan Matteson in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania with siblings Marcella Matteson Waters, James Matteson, Donald Matteson, Fred Matteson, cherished sister Ellen Matteson McMenamin, Robert Matteson, Mildred Matteson, and Daniel Matteson. Raised mainly in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Loretta refused to learn to drive, instead memorizing the bus routes but preferring to walk everywhere she went.

Calvin Levi Sibley Jr.

(November 4, 1904-July 24,1986) was born to Calvin Levi Sr. and Beulah Ellis in Portsmouth, Virginia with siblings Thomas Sibley, Ethel Sibley, and Ellis Sibley. Raised in Baltimore, Maryland, following graduation Calvin attended seminary school in Chicago, Illinois. Calvin then returned to the East Coast working for Westing House in Philadelphia.

It was in Philadelphia that Loretta and Calvin met; Loretta was swept off her feet. The couple settled in Washington, D.C. where Loretta worked as a statistician for the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and Calvin was a construction supervisor for apartment complexes in the area. Together the family spent countless hours in museums, galleries, and capital buildings; Calvin especially loved going to the Library of Congress to sit and read from the collection. After retirement Loretta worked at Woodward & Lothrop department store where she had the gift to make anyone look good. At home Loretta could be found chasing her beloved parakeets out of  the curtains and back into their cage, daily. Calvin baked the best Christmas fruit cakes and watermelon rind pickles. They are  now being laid to rest next to Carl in the Sibley plot.