Bill Carter

  Bill Carter, 92, precious father and faithful Christian, went to be with his Heavenly Father with arms open and singing praises on March 21, 2017. Born September 23, 1924, to Albert and Ollie Carter, he was a lifelong resident of Weatherford, Texas. 

  He was preceded in his passing by his loving wife of 66 years, Virginia Phillips Carter.

  Bill Carter honorably served his country during World War II aboard the U.S.S California. The battleship was sunk at Pearl Harbor in the infamous “Battleship Row,” raised from the mud, and repaired and reinforced with wider and thicker walls, such that it could no longer go through the Panama Canal. 

  After it’s refurbishing, the 19 year old Bill Carter was assigned duty on the U.S.S. California for the rest of the war. The battleship fought in almost every major engagement in the Pacific Theater, including six major Asiatic-Pacific invasions which included the invasion of the Marianas, Battle for Surigao Strait, Lingayen Gulf where the kamikaze hit the ship killing 44 shipmates and wounded 155, Okinawa, Saipan, Guam, Tinian, softening the many beachheads for the marines, the Philippine Liberation of Leyte and Luzon and culminating with the occupation of Tokyo only weeks after the dropping of the nuclear bombs that ended the war. The ship was also credited with sinking a Japanese battleship, seven Japanese aircraft, awarded seven Battle Stars and the Presidential Unit Citation. 

  After the war, Bill Carter returned to his hometown of Weatherford, Texas, married the love of his life and raised his family. Mission Accomplished.

  The family would like to thank the Office of Dr. Allen Hornell for their loving and limitless medical care, as well as the Dallas Veteran’s Hospital and associated Hospice Unit for their service.

  He is survived by a son, Freddie A. Carter and wife, Patricia; a son, Joe Bill Carter and wife, Sharon; a daughter, Darla K. Berry and husband, Ricky; and a son, Brad Carter and wife, Vicki; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Sammie Harris and her daughter, Dr. Lauranne Harris; and other nieces and nephew.

  His services will be held 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 25, 2017, in the Galbreaith Pickard Funeral Chapel, the former Couts United Methodist Church, where Virginia and Bill were married on June 6, 1946. Visitation will be Friday, March 24, 2017, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.