In Loving Memory of... Russell L. Carter, May 5, 1929 – June 29, 2015

“How do you sum up the life of a totally amazing man that was literally the nicest man on Earth?” That was the question Jeanette Harold asked a large crowd of family and friends as she and her siblings led them in memorializing their father, Russell L. Carter. Born the eldest child to parents James and Alice Carter on May 5, 1929 in Worthington, Minn., Carter was the first of four boys. His three brothers, Wayne, Tom and Paul, were his best friends. Harold reminisced, “My dad would tell my brothers, ‘You can fight with your neighbors, but you don’t fight with your brothers.’” Carter attended grade school in Detroit, Mich., and joined the Army in 1948. He completed basic training in Texas and was then stationed at Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Ala., which was not yet a state. When the Army and Air Corp divided into two separate branches of the armed services, Carter then served with the Air Force. He was stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base and, after that, Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, Calif., where he met a pretty nursing student, Joyce Mills. The couple married and moved to Detroit, where they began their family. Their first child, Jeannette, was born in Detroit. About a year later the family moved to California and had their second child, Mike. A year later, the family moved back to Detroit and had three more children: Mark, Jeff and Tom. Carter then talked his mom and his brothers Wayne and Paul into moving back to sunny California, and upon moving to California for the last time, the couple had their sixth child, Susan. Carter resided in Grand Terrace for the last 42 years and worked for over 60 years in sales after graduating from Valley College and being promoted to sales at Foremost Dairy, where he previously had been working as a driver. Carter loved God, country, family and golf – not necessarily in that order – and it was apparent through his selfless acts of giving. A pioneer in organ donation, in 1969 Carter became the first live donor in Riverside County when he donated a kidney to his brother. He was also a member of several charitable community-based organizations, including the San Bernardino Elks Club and the Colton Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was also very active in the Grand Terrace Lions Club, where he served as the club’s president and was recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement award. Carter was beloved by the town of Grand Terrace, as well as his family and friends. Another love of his life was the game of golf. He loved the game, and he got pretty good. His best round was a 78, and he even once had a hole-in-one. During the last few years of his life, he could not golf because of a bad knee, but Carter was always positive and optimistic. His favorite saying was, “It just doesn’t get any better than this,” which he would say about omelette dinners his daughter Susan would make him, or a drive to the beach, or a root beer float, or a good game of gin rummy, or a round of golf with his sons or his many friends – and he had so many. Carter’s highest compliment was to call someone “a good friend.” Never one to stay idle, Carter volunteered countless hours to his community, keeping busy with the Lion’s Club. He worked bingo, pancake breakfasts, fundraising, planning the golf tournaments and attending meetings. He spent time with loved ones, playing gin rummy, enjoying meals, church, poker, pool and more. With love and respect, he is remembered by his positive attitude, his ready smile and his great storytelling. He was an amazing father, husband, grandfather, brother, uncle and a good friend. He is survived by six children: Jeanette Harold (Tony), Michael Carter, Mark Carter (Simone), Jeffery Carter (Donna), Thomas Carter (Veronica), Susan Boling (David); 11 grandchildren: Tony, Angie, Aly, Dylan, Russell, Kristen, Matthew, Angelica, Anthony, Jessie and Daniel; 10 great-grandchildren; brother Paul Carter, numerous nieces, nephews and companion Roxie Ogilvie. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Joyce, and his brothers Wayne and Tom. The celebration of his life began with a viewing and “sharing of stories” at Colton Funeral Home on Monday, July 6. A funeral service was held Tuesday, July 7 at Grand View Baptist Church in Grand Terrace. There was never a life more well-lived than his. He will be greatly missed.