Obituary of Carl Keith Carlton

CARLTON, Carl Keith 96 1/2, born on February 26, 1920 in Clarksville, TX, to Benjamin Thomas Carlton and Annie E. Bizzell Carlton. Carl stopped breathing at 3:00 p.m. August 29, 2016, under Heartland Hospice care at Canyon Valley Memory Care in Green Valley, AZ. He did it his way, after a short illness, with his body and then mind failing. He was ready after a full life lived with vigor and vitality. A retired Major in the USAF, with 24+ years of PCS moves all over America and 3 years overseas in the occupation of Japan and during the Korean War, Carl retired in March 1964 from Flightline Maintenance Officer duty for SAC in the HQ 93rd Bombardment Wing. His crews had maintained the B-29 fleet, then B-47's and finally, B-52's. A plane and car enthusiast, he learned auto mechanics at a tender age from his father, Ben, a master mechanic who taught Carl the value of doing the right thing the right way. He was cut out to be a leader and wound up selling cars for O'Reilly Chevrolet, retiring in March 1982 as New Car Sales Mgr. after 14 years. He continued to work on cars as a hobby into his 90's, rebuilding engines, body work and painting. A FAA licensed pilot for years, he flew small rented prop planes over the Tucson desert showing his wife, Mary Lou Carlton (deceased February 13, 2014) and surviving only son, Richard D. Carlton, the grandeur of Southern Arizona and the thrill of flying in the 50's. A commanding personality made him seem larger than life, but he was also frequently generous to family and friends alike. He loved to drive all over So. Arizona just to have lunch and admire the majestic Saguaro Cacti. Carl is survived by son, Richard (Elaine), two grandsons, and six great-grandsons. Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 16, 2016 at Adair Avalon Chapel, 8090 N. Northern in Tucson. Interment will be at the So. AZ Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, 1300 Buffalo Soldier Trail, Sierra Vista, AZ at 1:00 p.m. Friday, September 16, 2016. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the AZ Daily Star Sportsmen's Fund in his memory. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, Avalon Chapel.