Mr. E.W. (Bill) Carlton, Jr., age 89 of Rockmart, Georgia passed away Wednesday, August 27, 2014. Mr. Carlton was born July 30, 1925 in Rockmart, son of the late E.W. Carlton, Sr. and the late Bertha Hulsey Carlton. He was preceded in death by a sister, Jane Carlton. Mr. Carlton served in the U.S. Navy as a Pharmacist Mate on the USS Haskell from 1943-1946 in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. Following his military service he graduated in 1949 from the University of Georgia School of Business. He then began working for the family business, Carlton’s Department Store. The store had locations in Rockmart and Cedartown and remained in business for over 100 years. He was very active in his community serving in the Rockmart Jaycees, Rotary Club, President of the Rockmart Touch Down Club, and on the Board of Directors at the Rockmart Bank and Trust Company Bank for many years.
Mr. Carlton was a member of the First Baptist Church of Rockmart where he served on the Board of Deacons and Pulpit Committee, taught Junior Boys Sunday School, and later became the Adult I Sunday School Director. He was an avid golfer until his mid-80’s with 3 hole in ones to his credit. He was also a devout Georgia Bulldog fan. Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Elizabeth Quarles Carlton; three sons, Ken Carlton of Rockmart; Bob Carlton of Rome; Dan Carlton and his wife Misty of Rome; four grandchildren, Jeff Carlton and Davis Carlton of Rockmart, Katie and Callie Carlton of Rome; three great-grandchildren, Logan, Tillman, and Laney Beth Carlton of Rockmart. Funeral Services for Mr. Carlton will be held on Saturday, August 30th at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Rockmart with Dr. Greg Thompson and Dr. David Turner officiating. Eulogy will be given by Mr. Mike McRae. Interment will follow in the family lot of Rose Hill Cemetery. Mr. Carlton will lie in state at the church on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral hour. The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers: Lee Cummings, Jerry McDurmon, Jeff Ellis, Jimmy Lester, Ronald Brackett, and Donald "Duck" Mintz. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday evening, August 29th between the hours of 6 and 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to the First Baptist Church of Rockmart Building Fund P. O. Box 388, Rockmart, GA 30153 in memory of Mr.Carlton. Freeman Harris Funeral Home is in charge of the funeral services of Mr. E. W. (Bill) Carlton, Jr. (Freeman Harris Funeral Home, Website, August, 2014)