Charles Martin Carter

Charles Martin “Chuck” Carter, of Canton, Miss., passed from this life on Sept. 7, 2016, in the presence of those he loved and those who loved him. He was 67.
Chuck was born on Dec. 30, 1948, at Fort Benning, Ga., to Charles Jefferson Carter and Helen Olga Polick Carter. Being a military child, he lived in many locations while his father was a career Army officer. Some of these were: Augsburg and Darmstadt, Germany; Columbus, Miss.; Medina, N.Y.; Hershey, Pa., and Birmingham, Ala. One of four children, the family finally settled back in Columbus, where Chuck’s father finished his military career. Chuck began and ended his education in Columbus, first at Franklin Academy and graduating from S. D. Lee High School. A year after graduating from high school, Chuck enlisted in the Army (1967), going on to complete Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Okla., at 18 in 1967. He volunteered to go to Vietnam in 1968 and spent his year there as a forward observer and firing battery executive officer for the 4/42 Field Artillery in the 4th Infantry Division. While there Chuck was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor and two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart with a V for Valor. He received the Silver Star for his actions in a major conflict in April 1969. Upon his return to the States, Chuck was assigned to the Training Division at Fort Sill, where he taught field artillery tactics. He met and married Sheila Stueve there, with whom he had three children: Julie, Dan and Jeff.
Chuck left the Army in 1970 and moved back to Columbus. Shortly after that he moved his family to Starkville, Miss., where he was employed and began college at Mississippi State University. In 1974, he joined the 2/114th Field Artillery with the MS National Guard in Starkville. Several years later he took a full-time position with the Guard and began a long career. His position took him from training officer to commander, 2/114th, Starkville, to the G-3 officer with the 155th Field Artillery in Tupelo. He was called up for Operation Desert Shield/Storm and spent most of his time at Fort Hood, Texas, and NTC (California) training soldiers in field Artillery tactics. After Desert Storm, Chuck was assigned as the Plans and Mobilization Staff Officer at National Guard Headquarters in Jackson. He developed many plans for the mobilization of troops during that time. He also worked closely with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency in coordinating Guard assets during disasters. Chuck retired from the Guard in 1995 and from federal service in 2001. He then went to work with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency in several capacities until his retirement in 2009. During this time he also completed his associate degree at Hinds Community College.
In 2003 Chuck married Margaret Walsh Rosamond, and they enjoyed working together and later traveling during retirement. Their favorite trips were to see children and grandchildren, Walt Disney World, Branson and military reunions.
Mr. Carter was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Peter. Chuck is survived by his wife, Margaret Walsh Carter, his daughter and son-in-law Julie and Gary Newcomb (Pflugerville, Texas); son and daughter-in-law Dan and Paige Carter (Brandon), his son Jeff Carter (Jarrell, Texas); stepson and daughter-in-law Matt and Jennifer Rosamond (Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.); stepson Jonathan Rosamond (Ocean Springs), and stepdaughter and son-in-law Caryn and Jim Stribling (Madison). Other survivors include his grandchildren Joey and Jenni Newcomb; Ashton Thompson; Bryson, Reagan and Payton Carter; Zachary Rosamond; and Kennedy Stribling. He is also survived by his brothers and sister-in-laws Mike and Diann Carter of Columbus, and Tim and Pam Carter of Oxford, as well as a number of nieces and nephews.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his name to the Blair B. Batson Children’s Hospital, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, the 4th Infantry Division Association, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.