Roy William Carter

Roy William Carter was born on September 24, 1926 near Cleveland, in rural Pawnee County, Oklahoma; the son of Mike and Alma (Dill) Carter. Roy was initially raised and attended school in a one room school on Balmer Hill near Cleveland. He later moved with his family to a farm near Boston Pool in Osage County before relocating to South Texas. Upon completion of his education, Roy accepted employment as a custodian working for a funeral home and dry goods store near Houston, Texas. He later accepted a position with a shipyard in the Houston area assisting in the construction and repair of ships. While working at the shipyard, Roy learned to weld, a career he enjoyed throughout his life. While residing in Houston, Roy was inducted into the service of his country during World War II in the United States Navy on October 16, 1943. While serving in the Navy, Seaman First Class Carter was assigned to Carrier Aircraft Service Unit Twenty Six and Twenty Two. Additionally, he served on USS Antietam (CV-36), an aircraft carrier commissioned at the end of World War II. After serving nearly fifteen months of sea duty, S1C Carter finished his military duty at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas and was honorably discharge on May 28, 1946 at Camp Wallace, Texas. Upon his discharge from the Navy, Roy moved to Kansas where he accepted employment in the oilfields assisting in the operating of drilling and pulling units. He then returned to Oklahoma and accepted a position in Tulsa as a welder for Spartan Aircraft Company. His duties included assisting in the construction of the company's product housing and leisure trailers. While attending church services at the Church of God of Prophecy in Broken Arrow, Roy met the love of his life Violet Virginia Walters and the couple was married on June 9, 1949 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Shortly after their marriage, Roy was laid off from his position with Spartan as their produce line at that time exceeded demand. Following his calling from his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Roy then attended the Bible Institute in Cleveland, Tennessee and was ordained in May 1951. Roy served the Lord as a full and part time pastor and bible scholar for the Church of God of Prophecy during the remainder of his life; pastoring churches in Oklahoma and Texas including, Holdenville, Sulfur, Kingsville, Texarkana, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Bixby and on two occasions, Cleveland. After his retirement in 1974, Roy continued to minister to the family of God through filling pulpits when needed and teaching Sunday School full time. He was considered by many as a Revelation Scholar for the extensive knowledge he displayed of the book of Revelation. Although, he pastured throughout his life he continued to participate in his career as a welder, retiring in 2009 from Slagle Manufacturing. His commitment throughout life was always to his God, County and Family and he was always ready to defend them. He was described as a God fearing Christian man, who was faithful, hardworking and a wonderful provider. He was a good teacher and shared his love for the Lord with everyone he came in contact with. He loved to fish, garden but mostly enjoyed reading and studying the bible. Roy was awarded his high school diploma from Cleveland High School in a special graduation ceremony for veterans of World War II at a Veterans Day assembly several years ago. Roy laid claim to his eternal reward as a faithful follower of Christ Jesus on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at the Cleveland Manor Nursing Home at the age of eighty-five. He is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, Violet of the home; three sons, Roy Edward Carter of Walters, Oklahoma, John Wayne Carter of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Robert Eugene and wife, Sara Carter of Bixby, Oklahoma; eight grandchildren, Roman, Taylor Alexis, Faith Ann Carter, Travis William Carter, Dedria Marie Banter, Chance Wayne Carter, Sheila Virginia Riddle and Jessica Jones; and three great-grandchildren, Skyler Riddle, Cameron Colby Carter and Nichole Sky Carter; He was preceded in death by parents, Mike and Alma D. Carter; a brother, Freddie Carter and four sisters, Irene Walters, Ruby Elledge, Florine Ermis and Ina Lee Ewers.