Walter Lee Carter

On Wednesday, December 19, 2012, Walter Lee Carter, 95, was called away to his eternal home. He left a legacy of integrity, faith, and service that will impact his family and community for many years to come. Remaining are his wife, Gwendolyn Kissinger Carter, married 70 years on October 16, 2012, and three children, Jane Files (Jim) and Jill Cutting (Randy) of Fort Smith, and Walter Lee Carter, Jr. of Little Rock. Pop leaves seven grandchildren, Beth Jerry (Terry) of Collierville, Tenn., Jake Files (Michaela) of Fort Smith, Joanna Majka (Brian) of Tulsa, Okla., Jenni Jordan (Adam) of Little Rock, Jessi Forster (Chris) of North Little Rock, Shelby Witherow (Zach) of Little Rock, and Robert Carter of Fayetteville, twelve great-grandchildren, plus a host of other family, friends and church and business associates too numerous to mention. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and five sisters. Walter was born on July 21, 1917, in Logan County, the son of schoolteachers Walter Joseph and Hannah Real Carter, and he began attending school at the age of two. He graduated from Scranton High School in 1934, attended Arkansas Tech, and served in the Navy in World War II. He had a successful business career, culminating with his ownership of Tucker Duck and Rubber Company, a manufacturer of outdoor camping and sports equipment. He retired in 1978 at the age of 61. Walter was instrumental in the formation of the South 46th St. Church of Christ in 1967, where he was a faithful member for the last 45 years. He was an active Rotarian and a member of the Noon Civics Club. Walter Carter was a concerned citizen in local political issues, and led two successful campaigns against urban renewal in the 1960's, saving the historic downtown Fort Smith district from being demolished for federal housing projects. Walter was an avid runner and bicyclist, and was active up to age 92. He was a huge fan of the Razorbacks and enjoyed bowling in several leagues in the area. Funeral service will be at Edwards Funeral Home at 10 a.m. Saturday, December 22, 2012. Visitation will be Friday afternoon, December 21, 2012 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home. Pallbearers are grandsons and grandsons-in-law. Honorary pallbearers are Nelson Wakefield, Dr. John Watts, Gene Staton, Harold Hidy, James McDaniel, and the Elders of the South 46th St. Church of Christ. Special thanks go out to Dr. Margaret Tremwell, the caring staff at the Memory Care Unit at Willowbrook Assisted Living Facility, and the hospice team at Sparks Hospital. Memorials may be made to his congregation a South 46th St. Church of Christ, 2323 S. 46th St., Ft. Smith, Ark. 72903 or the Alzheimer's Foundation, 2408 S. 51st Ct., Ft. Smith, Ark., 72903. To sign the online guest book please visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com.