Obituary: Carter, Othel F.
He was so ready and went very peacefully, surrounded by family, right when his beautiful wife gave him a final kiss.
Funeral services for Othel F. Carter, age 97, will be held Satur- day, December 7, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at the Tekoa Community Church in Tekoa, WA.
Pastor Kathy Lee Kramer will officiate at the service.
A private family burial service will be held at Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane later.
He was born on October 9, 1916 in Pomeroy, WA to James F. and Hazel (Mumau) Carter.
His family moved from Pomeroy to the Tensed area in 1918.
Othel graduated from Tekoa High School in 1935.
He then attended Washington State College in Pullman and a diesel mechanics school in California.
Othel enlisted in the United States Air Force during World War II.
He was a pilot in the Army Air Corps and flew transport missions in India, Burma, China, and northern Africa.
He was discharged in 1946 as a 1st Lieutenant.
Othel married Bernice M. Turk on November 8, 1943 at Tensed, ID and celebrated their 70th anniversary earlier this year.
They made their home north of Tensed where he farmed until his retirement in 1996 at the age of 80.
He was a fantastic farmer and so loved the land.
He was a Veteran of World War II; a life member of the Elks Lodge in St. Maries, Idaho; a member of the Spokane Club, and he had served on the Hospital Board for the Benewah Community Hospital in St. Maries.
He was the longest living member of the Tensed Grange where he had been a lifelong member.
Othel enjoyed participating in the Stock Market, and enjoyed driving his Cadillacs.
Survivors include his wife Bernice at the Tensed home; two daughters, Gayle Stockton of Spokane Valley, WA and Glenna (Greg) Helm of LaQuinta, CA; a daughter-in-law, Sherry (Jim ) Klaus of Tensed, ID; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his son John in 2000; his two brothers, Eugene and Vernon Carter, a son-in-law David Stockton.
Memorial gifts may be given to the Empire Theater in Tekoa or to the Tekoa Golf Course.
KRAMER FUNERAL HOME Of Tekoa, WA is handling the arrangements.