Joseph Thomas Carter Jr.
Marriages
Mary Ann Whittaker - October 10, 1950
Married in Eagle, CO
Obituaries
The Daily Sentinel page 6B - June 25, 2023
Joseph Thomas Carter,
Jr. passed away at the
Community Living Center
in Grand Junction, CO on
June 14, 2023 at the age
of 99. Joseph was born
on December 24, 1923 in
Leadville, Colorado to
Joseph Thomas Carter,
Sr. and Cora Belle Fenno
Carter. Joe was the youngest of 8 children. The family
moved from Leadville to Squaw Creek in Eagle County before 1920 where they became farmers. Joe and his siblings
attended the one room schoolhouse on Squaw Creek Road.
Joe worked for Climax Molybdenum Co. before enlisting in the US Navy on June 15, 1943. After boot camp
in Idaho, he was stationed on the USS Mississippi - BB41
in the South Pacific. He was a Machinist Mate 2nd Class
when he was Honorably discharged on April 4, 1946.
Joe married Mary Ann Whittaker, daughter of Gordon
and LaVeta Whittaker, on October 10, 1950 in Eagle,
Colorado. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary
in 2020. Joe and Mary Ann lived in Eagle for over 50 years.
They spent many winters in Yuma, AZ and moved to Grand
Junction in 2000.
Joe worked as a mechanic for Koonce Chevrolet, John
Deere and Conoco. He was a heavy equipment operator for
the Eagle County Road and Bridge Department for many
years and a school bus mechanic for Eagle County Public
Schools when he retired in 1987. Joe enjoyed hunting and
fishing when he was younger. He also enjoyed bowling,
horseshoes, playing pool, and jeep rides in the mountains
around Eagle. Joe and Mary Ann loved dancing, especially
square dancing.
Joe was predeceased by his wife Mary Ann, his parents,
four brothers and three sisters. He is survived by his son,
Rod (Louise) of Eagle; daughter, Jolyn Carroll (Greg) of
Dumfries, VA; four grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, August
2, 2023, 11:00 am at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary, 2515
Patterson Ave., Grand Junction, CO. Burial will be 1:00 pm
at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado,
2830 Riverside Parkway, Grand Junction, CO.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Community
Living Center at VA Western Colorado Health Care System
in memory of Joe Carter. The address is 2121 North
Avenue Grand Junction, CO 81501 or to the Alzheimer’s
Association at alz.org.
