Floyd was born March 17, 1923, in Sheridan, Maine, to the late E. Clinton Carter and Jessie Jane (Page) Carter. He lived in Castle Hill where he attended school and was graduated from Mapleton High School in 1940.
He moved to Bath, Maine, in 1941 and worked at the First National Store. In 1942, he was employed at the Bath Post Office until June 1943 when he was drafted into the Army. Before leaving, he asked his sweetie, Harriet Furber, to “wait for him;” she agreed! He served in the States and was sent overseas. He served in New Guinea first and later in the Philippines at Manila. He was discharged in Fort Devens in January 1946 and returned to the Bath Post Office, where he worked up the ranks from Letter Carrier to Superintendent of Mails to Assistant Postmaster and then retired as Postmaster in 1978.
On June 26, 1946, he married Harriet Alvina Furber. It was a double wedding along with Harriet’s sister, Mary, and her fiancé B. Leonard Merrill. The Carters made their home at 9 Bailey St. for eight years and then moved to 955 High St., where they raised their family, and ultimately lived for almost 60 years.
Floyd was bi-vocational; in addition to his service at the Post Office, he was also a pastor at several churches; he started out at Parker Head in 1953; then to First Baptist Church in West Bowdoin from 1956–1976; First Freewill Baptist Church (now First Baptist) in Brunswick from 1976-1990; and then interim pastor at Nobleboro Baptist and Corliss Street Baptist (Bath). He always loved the little kids; and they loved HIM … just waiting for him to say “Amen,” in the benediction so they could go running up to him for hugs, and maybe be picked up in his arms.
Floyd was a member of Rotary, where he was president twice and received the Paul Harris Award; was an honorary board member at the Salvation Army; worked with American Baptist Churches of Maine; was an active member of the Gideons; and was involved in the Brunswick Church Council.
In his spare time (which, believe it or not, he did have) Floyd enjoyed reading — almost all genres! For years he played trumpet with the Salvation Army band, and loved music … especially when it was praising God. Floyd and Harriet were often seen walking in the neighborhood until recent years. His sense of humor was “legendary,” (either one liked it or didn’t!). And even though he had dementia for close to 15 years, he never lost that sense of humor; and he never lost the ability to pray. When he prayed, one would seldom know that he was suffering from dementia.
Floyd is survived by his wife of almost 68 years, Harriet Carter, now living in Hancock, ME; two sons — Clinton, and his wife Peggy of Canastota, NY; Charles, and his wife Karen Roche of Maplewood, NJ; his daughter Christina Boucher, and her husband Jonathan of Trenton, ME; seven grandchildren (Hillary, Nancy, Tim, Evangeline, Ben, Alanna and Ezra); and four greatgrandchildren (Miquela, Kaleigh, Declan and Noah) with one more on the way. We are sorry that his greatgrandchildren will never get to know their great-grampa! In addition, he is survived by his sisters-in-law Mary Merrill and her husband Leonard of Bedford, NH and Brigetta Carter of Skokie, IL; and many nieces and nephews and their families.
He is predeceased by all of his siblings (Ola, Dwight, Marjorie and Roger) and three of his wife’s siblings (Edmund, Jane and Norman).
A celebration of Floyd’s life will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 6, 2014, at First Baptist Church on Church Road in Brunswick. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Baptist Church Well Fund, First Baptist Church, c/o Mark Marstaller, 27 Eider Lane, Topsham, ME 04086; Salvation Army, 25 Congress Ave., Bath, ME 04530; or Friends in Action, P.O. Box 1446, Ellsworth, ME 04605.
Arrangements are by Daigle Funeral Home, 819 High St., Bath. Condolences may be made online at www.Daiglefuneralhome.com.
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