… But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? … William Shakespeare A light has gone out from our lives, but it also rises elsewhere, more glorious and bright than we who remain have ever witnessed.
The second child and only son of Thomas Samuel Carter and Bessie Pollow White, dad was born on February 14, 1923 in Porterville, Utah. There he grew up with his six sisters. There, he learned the values he taught us: honesty, integrity, hard work, dependability, dedication, service, and love.
During World War II, he served in north Africa as a military policeman, guarding supply lines and keeping other soldiers out of serious trouble. While there, he was selected as a member of a group of soldiers that guarded President Franklin D. Roosevelt. After his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, he took advantage of the GI Bill and earned a Bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Spanish from Brigham Young University.
He went to Mexico to polish his Spanish skills. Later, he earned a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Utah. He continued to educate himself until his physical condition made it too difficult.
On August 13, 1951, he married Marilyn Mecham – a friend of his sister Helen – in the Salt Lake Temple. Together, they bore and raised five children, one of whom greeted him affectionately following his death on September 24, 2018. Mom and the four of us remain behind (for a while) to continue practicing what he preached through how he lived his life.
He taught English and Spanish in the Salt Lake School District. His teaching career began at Roosevelt Junior High with 9th grade and then a transfer to Highland High School where he taught 10th grade English until his retirement (with a brief tour of duty at Northwest Junior High). His teaching did not stop when school dismissed for the day – he spent many extra hours in the evenings and on weekends grading and preparing for class.
He taught us to value education in general and literature and grammar in particular! Plus, we all learned how to say “Pass the butter, please”. in Spanish.
Dad was a lifelong believer in Christ and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served nearly two continuous decades as Ward Clerk. He and mom served an inner-city mission and many years together as workers in the Salt Lake Temple.
His quiet example of service to God imbued each of us with a similar commitment. He and mom loved music and encouraged each of us to learn to play an instrument and to sing. In his 60s, dad learned to play the piano well enough to accompany hymns in Priesthood Meetings.
He was continually devoted to his family throughout his life, both as a child and as a parent, and supported each of us in everything we endeavored to do. We have had the privilege of living with and learning from one of the best sons of our Heavenly Father. We have every intention of living as he lived; honoring God, Family, and Country.
We offer our sincere gratitude to the staffs of The Wentworth at Millcreek and Brighton Home Health for their compassionate service to dad and mom as he lived his last days. Visitation: Friday, September 28, 2018 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 South 2300 East, Salt Lake City, UT. Graveside Service: Saturday, September 29, 2018 at 11:00 AM in the South Morgan Cemetery, 335 South State Street, Morgan, UT.
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