Mr. John Austin Carter

John Austin Carter, 92, died peacefully Friday, August 16, at his home in Linville, N.C., following a brief illness. He was surrounded by his wife Boots and his family. Mr. Carter was born June 23, 1921 to Mary Briggs Carter and Samuel Travis Carter in Salisbury, N.C. He was predeceased in death by his sister, Julia Carter Gooch and his brother, Samuel Travis Carter, Jr., and by his son, John Austin Carter Jr. He is survived by his younger brother, Paul W. Carter, who lives in Salisbury. Mr. Carter’s mother owned and operated Salisbury Business College for most of her life for many years, His father was a partner in Carter and Trotter Drug Store until his death in 1959. Mr. Carter was married to Lucille Manning Barbour (Boots) from Charlotte N.C., with whom he raised seven children. They have 16 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Their children are: Lyn Carter Hadden and her husband David, John Austin Carter, Jr. (deceased), Janet Stickley Brady and her husband Chris, Mimi Stickley, Jennie Stickley Fry and her husband Dan, Wendy Stickley Fowler and her husband, John, and Gwin Carter Barr and her husband Matt. He graduated from Boyden High School in 1939, and went on to study industrial engineering at N.C. State, where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity. In 1942, he left college to enlist in the Army Air Corp, serving as a navigator on a B-29 bomber. Mr. Carter was an entrepreneur who founded several businesses in North Carolina. They include Carter Brothers Furniture Manufacturing Company in Salisbury, founded, with his brother Paul, in 1946; Carter Industries Inc., a second furniture manufacturing company; and Carolina Color Corporation, a supplier of colorant to the plastics industry. Mr. Carter was active in his community, serving on both the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce and the City Council. He was the founding chairman of the Duke University Comprehensive Cancer Center. He also sat on various education, church and community boards. In 1956, he was named Young Man of the Year, in Salisbury, N.C., and he was the 1988 recipient of the William B. Shingleton Distinguished Service Award, Duke University. Mr. Carter was a devout Christian and a proud American who was committed to preserving our country’s founding principles. He was an avid sportsman, physically active until days before his death. He enjoyed golf, boating and fishing, and was particularly proud of his tennis achievements, including winning a doubles’ tournament at the age of 86. A devoted family man, he was married 45 years to his precious wife, Boots, who along with his children and grandchildren, were a comfort to him throughout his life. The funeral service for Mr. Carter will be held on Wednesday, August 21, at 11:00 am, at the First Methodist Church, 217 S. Church St., Salisbury, N.C. Contributions in Mr. Carter’s memory may be made to Crossnore School, P.O. Box 249, Crossnore, N.C. 28616.

Mr. John Austin Carter

June 23, 1921 - August 16, 2013