Obituary for William Earl Carr
Col. William (Will) E Carr (U.S. Air Force, Ret.) age 83, passed peacefully in his sleep May 12, 2022, at James River Nursing Home, Springfield MO after a battle with Alzheimer’s. He was born October 17, 1938, in Grant County Arkansas to James E. and Velma (Shell) Carr.
He graduated from Pine Bluff AR High School in 1956 and from National College in Kansas City MO in January of 1963 with a BA in Psychology. He married Delores (Dee) Kuehl in Pipestone MN on August 20, 1961.
In September 1963 he entered the Air Force Officer Training School and was commissioned in December 1963. Will was in the first group of officers who were trained as career Aircraft Maintenance Officers at Chanute AFB Rantoul IL. He served as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer in the Strategic Air Command (SAC). He served two tours at Hqtrs. SAC (Bellevue NE), as Aircraft Systems Manager and as Fleet Manager for B-52 and B-1 bombers. He was also assigned to the following combat aircraft units: 70th Bomb Wing at Clinton-Sherman, OK; 4258th Strategic Wing, SAC at U-Tapao Airfield in Thailand; 340th Bomb Group, SAC at Carswell AFB, TX; 7th Bomb Wing, SAC, at Carswell AFB, TX; 319th Bomb Wing at Grand Forks AFB, ND; and 380th Bomb Wing, Plattsburgh AFB, NY. He also served two years with the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan and two years as Director Quality Assurance, USAF Depot, Tinker AFB, OK. He retired in August 1987.
Will loved reading – mysteries, history, religion. He loved gospel and country music. He enjoyed woodworking and made several small pieces of furniture that served a special purpose in a special place. He designed their home in Fremont Hills and served as the “Builder”. He bought oak lumber and milled the trim and installed it. It is much more than straight boards. He built and installed a corner desk in the office using the wood floor as the top.
His passion after retirement was genealogy. He persuaded his brother to join him, and they traveled and researched together. He joined SAR (Sons of the American Revolution) and then again persuaded his brother to join. The “Carr Brothers” were active in their respective chapters and at the state level as long as they were able. They were both proud to be members of the Jamestown Society.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Velma Carr, brother Romie, sister Marjorie Gundolf and his niece Annette Tuberville.
Surviving are his wife Delores (Dee), daughters Lisa (Greg) George and son Branden, Sonya (Brad) Boydston and son Aidan, 3 step granddaughters, and 7 step-great-grandchildren, sister-in-law Carolyn Carr, her daughters Sharon (Stan) Bell and Susan (Dodd) Comeau-Vanek and family, niece Cynthia(Rey) Almodovar and son Justin and family, and Annette's family. Also surviving are Dee's family -- brother Norman (Mary) Kuehl, sisters Margaret Kelm, LaDonna (Glenn) Gravelle and Myrna Kuehl and their families.
We are grateful for and would like to thank the staff at James River Nursing Home and Intrepid Hospice for the loving care he received the past three months.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to:
Cassidy United Methodist Church, 5151 N. Fremont Rd., Nixa, MO 65714
Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research, FDR Station, PO Box 220, New York, New York 10150
Charity of your choice
A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, July 16th at Cassidy UMC, 5151 N. Fremont Rd. in Nixa, Mo. with visitation at 1 pm and service at 2 pm. Interment, with full military honors, will be Monday, July 18th at 9 am at Missouri Veterans Cemetery, 5201 S. Southwood Rd. in Springfield, Mo.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home in Springfield, Mo.
Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.
He graduated from Pine Bluff AR High School in 1956 and from National College in Kansas City MO in January of 1963 with a BA in Psychology. He married Delores (Dee) Kuehl in Pipestone MN on August 20, 1961.
In September 1963 he entered the Air Force Officer Training School and was commissioned in December 1963. Will was in the first group of officers who were trained as career Aircraft Maintenance Officers at Chanute AFB Rantoul IL. He served as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer in the Strategic Air Command (SAC). He served two tours at Hqtrs. SAC (Bellevue NE), as Aircraft Systems Manager and as Fleet Manager for B-52 and B-1 bombers. He was also assigned to the following combat aircraft units: 70th Bomb Wing at Clinton-Sherman, OK; 4258th Strategic Wing, SAC at U-Tapao Airfield in Thailand; 340th Bomb Group, SAC at Carswell AFB, TX; 7th Bomb Wing, SAC, at Carswell AFB, TX; 319th Bomb Wing at Grand Forks AFB, ND; and 380th Bomb Wing, Plattsburgh AFB, NY. He also served two years with the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan and two years as Director Quality Assurance, USAF Depot, Tinker AFB, OK. He retired in August 1987.
Will loved reading – mysteries, history, religion. He loved gospel and country music. He enjoyed woodworking and made several small pieces of furniture that served a special purpose in a special place. He designed their home in Fremont Hills and served as the “Builder”. He bought oak lumber and milled the trim and installed it. It is much more than straight boards. He built and installed a corner desk in the office using the wood floor as the top.
His passion after retirement was genealogy. He persuaded his brother to join him, and they traveled and researched together. He joined SAR (Sons of the American Revolution) and then again persuaded his brother to join. The “Carr Brothers” were active in their respective chapters and at the state level as long as they were able. They were both proud to be members of the Jamestown Society.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Velma Carr, brother Romie, sister Marjorie Gundolf and his niece Annette Tuberville.
Surviving are his wife Delores (Dee), daughters Lisa (Greg) George and son Branden, Sonya (Brad) Boydston and son Aidan, 3 step granddaughters, and 7 step-great-grandchildren, sister-in-law Carolyn Carr, her daughters Sharon (Stan) Bell and Susan (Dodd) Comeau-Vanek and family, niece Cynthia(Rey) Almodovar and son Justin and family, and Annette's family. Also surviving are Dee's family -- brother Norman (Mary) Kuehl, sisters Margaret Kelm, LaDonna (Glenn) Gravelle and Myrna Kuehl and their families.
We are grateful for and would like to thank the staff at James River Nursing Home and Intrepid Hospice for the loving care he received the past three months.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to:
Cassidy United Methodist Church, 5151 N. Fremont Rd., Nixa, MO 65714
Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research, FDR Station, PO Box 220, New York, New York 10150
Charity of your choice
A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, July 16th at Cassidy UMC, 5151 N. Fremont Rd. in Nixa, Mo. with visitation at 1 pm and service at 2 pm. Interment, with full military honors, will be Monday, July 18th at 9 am at Missouri Veterans Cemetery, 5201 S. Southwood Rd. in Springfield, Mo.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home in Springfield, Mo.
Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.