Obituary of Charles Leslie Carter Jr.

Charles Leslie Carter, Jr. (Chuck), 80 of Gulfport, Florida passed away on November 26, 2020 at Suncoast Hospice in St. Petersburg, Florida. He was born May 22, 1940 in Keosauqua, Iowa to Charles Leslie Carter Sr. and Martha Maureen (Gwinnup) Carter. Growing up Chuck had a paper route and helped work the family farm. He also helped local farmers.

In high school Chuck played basketball, was treasurer of FFA, and sang in the school choir in which he won a #1 superior rating for his solo (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) during the state competition in Des Moines, Iowa. Chuck also received the DAR good citizen award which was given to a deserving Senior. Chuck also attended First United Methodist Church where he made two wooden candlesticks and a wooden cross which are still being used in the church today.

After high school, Chuck joined the United States Marine Corps and completed basic training in San Diego, California. He later was sent to serve at the Marine Corps air station in Beaufort, South Carolina where he met the love of his life, Maxine Smith. Chuck and Maxine were married March 17, 1961. When commitment to the Marine Corps ended, Chuck soon accepted a job with GTE telephone company as a cable splicer in Lakeland, Florida where his and Maxine’s two daughters and son were born. Through hard work and training, he was later  promoted to the level of engineer and moved his family to Gulfport, Florida in 1971. He proudly worked for GTE and retired after 33 years.  Chuck and Maxine also celebrated 52 years of marriage before the passing of Maxine on September 25, 2013.

Chuck was also involved in masonic service for more than 50 years. He served as Master Mason of Southland Lodge No 256 F. & A.M. chapter in 1972. He currently was a member of the Gulf Beach Masonic Lodge No 291 F. & A.M.

Chuck was a member of Central Christian Church  since 1972 where he served on the board, many years as chairman. Chuck always said since he had two sons-in-law who were pastors, he felt called to work with and support the pastors of his church which all have said he was a great support to them. After stepping down from the church board December 2019, Chuck continued to make hospital visits and serve the people of the church.  

Chuck was an independent 80 year old who was walking 1.5 miles a few times a week and did his own yard work. Even though he was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder November 2007, the Lord blessed him with quality of life for thirteen years. Unfortunately, the blood disorder advanced to leukemia (CMML) a few months ago.

Chuck is survived by daughter, Cindy Lamb of Newnan, Georgia; daughter, Leslie (Gary) Thompson of Covington, Georgia; son, Charles Leslie Carter, III of St. Petersburg, Florida; five grandchildren, Gavin (Darby) Lamb, Marissa (David) Biglow, Meredith Thompson, Micah Thompson, Mitchell Thompson; three great-grandchildren, Eleanor Biglow, Lucas Lamb, and one on the way; Sister, Charlene (Michael) Holland of Moline, Illinois; niece, Michelle (Dwight) Walker of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania; nephew, Matthew Holland of Moline, Illinois; cousins, Pat Madden, Terry Gwinnup, Roger Gwinnup, Donna O’Neil, and Pamela Ford.

Chuck was preceded in death by his wife, Maxine Eleanor (Smith) Carter on September 25, 2013; parents, Charles Leslie Carter, Sr. and Martha Maurine (Gwinnup) Carter.

There will be a committal service at Beaufort National Cemetery in Beaufort,SC. The service will take place Friday December 4th,2020 at 1PM.Also, there will be a memorial service at Central Christian Church in St. Petersburg at a later date and those details will follow