Obituary for C. Carter Rich C. Carter Rich, age 83, of Aldie, VA died on September 6, 2018 at Capital Caring Adler Center after a battle with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He was an internationally known dealer in fine mineral specimens, which he sold to collectors all over the world. Carter was born on August 14, 1935 to the late Charles V. Rich, Jr. and Marie (Jill) Elizabeth Levenson Rich of White Plains, NY.
He was raised from an early age in Orange, VA and attended the Woodberry Forest School and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, from which he received his Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering. He subsequently earned a Masters degree in Operations Research from the Pennsylvania State University and became a licensed professional engineer in the field of Mechanical Engineering while working in the aerospace and defense sector. Carter was a longtime employee of General Electric Aerospace during a 38 year career in aerospace, starting as a rocket engineer in the Sputnik era, and progressing through spacecraft and ground systems related assignments of increasing responsibility with GE in Valley Forge, PA.
He became known as an expert in the acquisition of new business, a skill which led to large increases in GE government contracts. Subsequently, he was General Manager of a GE Aerospace plant in San Jose, CA, although he never completely relinquished “hands-on” leadership of business acquisition and program management functions. Carter was a resident of Newtown Square, PA for 25 years and subsequently a resident of Palo Alto, CA and Aldie, VA.
Upon retiring from General Electric in 1991, he turned his mineral collecting hobby into a retirement business, which he pursued avidly to the benefit of a large coterie of customers. He was known for and specialized in the purchase and resale of mineral specimens from old collections and long closed localities. Although he purchased most specimens for resale, he always felt that he was a collector.
As a personal statement, he assembled and retained a definitive collection of minerals from Delaware County, PA. He traveled widely to acquire and sell his minerals. Carter was the beloved husband of 60 years of Mary Jean (“Poopsie”) Ambrose Rich, loving and devoted father of Elizabeth (Peter) Lapiska of Wilmington, NC and Andrea (Patrick) Shearn of Chadds Ford, PA, proud grandfather of Derek (Brittany) Lapiska, Hunter (Julie) Lapiska, Connor Lapiska, Dylan Shearn and Jill Shearn, great-grandfather of Reagan and Piper.
He was preceded in death by his son Charles Rich who died in 1987. Services will be private. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of C. Carter Rich please visit our Sympathy Store.
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