George

Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) George Houston Carlton Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) George Houston Carlton, 91 of Waxahachie, passed from this life of natural causes Tuesday, December 21, 2010 in Waxahachie, Texas. He was born to the late Grover H. and Ruby Butcher Carlton on August 9, 1919 in Waxahachie, Texas. George was raised on the family farm in Sterritt, Texas where his family raised hogs, corn and cotton. Lieutenant Colonel George Houston Carlton served 22 years in the Army Air Corps/Air Force, retiring in 1963. He served in WWII as a Hump Pilot in the China/Burma/India Theater, flew missions into Berlin and Germany as part of the Berlin Airlift. He served in Korea and Japan during the Korean War. George retired from the Air Force following the Cuban Missile Crisis after significant intelligence work in support of the Strategic Air Command at Laughlin Air Force Base, Del Rio, Texas. His military awards included the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, multiple Air Medals, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Department of Defense Staff Identification Badge and the Air Force Senior Aviator Wings and flew over 3,000 flight hours during his Air Force Career including over 1,000 combat hours during WW II, Korea and the Berlin Airlift. Following his retirement, he moved the family (wife Mary (Blondheim) and children Dwight, Duane, and Scott to Bear Canyon, Bozeman, Montana. He worked for Montana State University as a continuing education instructor and as a Southern Montana Civil Defense Director. He built a small ranch there, where the family raised horses and sheep and he taught his sons woods craft and provided the family with deer, moose, and antelope. In 1971, he sold the 53 acre Bear Canyon ranch and bought the 2,080 acre Hunter Creek Ranch in Springdale, Montana where the family raised cattle, sheep and horses. He sold the ranch in 1973 and moved the family to Helena, Montana where he was the state Civil Defense Director until his retirement in 1977. He then moved to his retirement home in Casa Grande, Arizona in 1977, where he and Mary learned Navajo silver smithing as a hobby. In 1982, they moved to Depoe Bay, Oregon which was the final resting place for Mary and in 1984 George moved back to his roots in Waxahachie, Texas to be close to his mother Ruby and his sisters, Mildred and Esther. He spent the next 8 years researching the Carlton family roots and published his work in a book that won several Genealogical awards in the Dallas area. George married Susan Stewart in 1992 and Susan passed away in 1999. In 2008 George moved into Covenant Place Assisted Living. He possessed great business sense and always seemed to make these dealings work very well. His ability with real estate was always uncanny - when he bought or sold real estate (homes, the ranches, etc.) his timing was impeccable. He was a very "firm but fair" man and treated all people with the utmost respect. George taught his boys how to hunt. He spent a lot of quality time with them ensuring that they knew the state regulations and how to properly take care of the game (Blue, Ruffed, and Sage Grouse; Deer, Antelope, Elk and Moose). Because of their success in the field, they went many years where the family didn't have to purchase meat for the household. George was the consummate rancher. He spent much time studying crop science and animal husbandry to succeed as a ranch owner. He drew from outstanding neighbors like the Burkharts in Bozeman and Earl McConnell in Springdale to further his ability to be a successful rancher. Four of his sons (Towomi (Marines), George (Navy), Dwight (Army) (deceased) and Duane (Army) followed in his footsteps by serving our country in the military. George was very active in Ellis County 4-H when he was raised on his family farm, and passed that legacy on to his children in Montana. He was a phenomenal marksman with the shot gun and rifle, winning skeet competitions while in the Air Force. When he decided to pursue a hobby, he would always become thoroughly engaged in it, much like Navajo Silversmithing and genealogy. The jewelry that he and Mary produced was of the highest quality - heavy, well constructed silver settings with excellent quality turquoise and red coral. His genealogy research and writing was outstanding. He served as the Ellis County Genealogical Society club president for several years. George's last hobby was reading. He loved reading novels and history and would read 3 or 4 books a week. This last hobby gave him considerable pleasure the last few years of his life. Family survivors include his sister Dorothy Hedin of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, brother Marion M. Carlton of Houston, Texas; sons Towomi J. of Houston, Texas, George H. , Jr. (Cathy) of Rockport, Texas, Lieutenant Colonel Duane C. (Cindy) of Bozeman, Montana, Mathew S. of Chicago, IL, and step daughter Carol Gates (Bruce) of Millburn, New Jersey. Graveside services with full Military Honors will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, December 27, 2010 at the Red Oak Cemetery, Red Oak, Texas, under the direction of Wayne Boze Funeral Home, Waxahachie, Texas. In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial donation to Lighted Pathways Hospice, P. O. Box 43731, Seven Points, Texas 75143. www.waynebozefuneralhome.com

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