The Rev. Robert William “Bob” Carter, Jr., 84, of Vandalia, died Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020, at 7:54 p.m. at SBL Fayette County Hospital in Vandalia.
Visitation will be held Friday, Dec. 4, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Brownstown. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. at the church with the Reverends Olen Evans and Joe Lawson co-officiating. Interment will follow in Fairlawn Cemetery in Vandalia. Military rites will be accorded at the gravesite by the Brownstown VFW Post #9770 and Crawford-Hale American Legion Post #95 in Vandalia. CDC guidelines will be followed, including wearing a face covering and social distancing.
The Rev. Carter was born Dec. 23, 1935, in Springfield, MO, the son of Robert William and Juanita (Sims) Carter, Sr. He married Juanita Phillips on Feb. 14, 1958, in Alabama, and she survives.
He proudly served his country in the United States Navy. A member of the First Baptist Church in Brownstown, he was a chaplain for the Navy, attending the USS Kenneth Whiting reunions.
After his service and formal education, he became a minister, pastoring at various churches across the United States. His ministerial journey led him to pastor at Camp Ground Baptist Church in Ozark, AL, First Baptist Church in Breckenridge, TX and Blackwell, TX, Glen Garden Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX, First Baptist Church in Krum, TX, Richland, MO, and Glendive, MT.
He was the director of Associational Missions in Vandalia, Lindenhurst and Granite City. He was the interim pastor at Marshall Creek Baptist Church in Odin, Temple Baptist Church in Vandalia and Reno Baptist Church in Reno.
He was a very personable man. He was outgoing, friendly, sociable and loved visiting with the many people he came to know over the years. He always had a positive energy and it was his goal to instill that positivity in those whom he encountered.
In addition to his wife of 62 years, he is survived by his daughter, Angela (husband Greg) Strobel of Brownstown; son, Eric (wife Vicky) Carter of Springfield, MO; sisters, Donna Ellingsworth of Missouri, and Cynthia (husband Phil) Becker of Iowa; brother, Steve (wife Lori) Carter of Arkansas; sister-in-law, Shirley Carter of North Carolina; grandchildren, Pierce (wife Brittany) Strobel of Brownstown, Joylynn (husband Eric) Beckett of Royse City, TX, Trevor Carter of Springfield, MO, and Nathan Carter of Springfield, MO; and great-grandchildren, Alaina Strobel, Wade Strobel, Dante Beckett, Amberlynn Beckett and great-grandbaby Strobel on the way.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Gary Carter.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Brownstown.
Online condolences may be left at www.hohltandfilefh.com.
