Bruce Carter Sr.

Major Bruce Justin Carter, Sr., age 82, passed away peacefully at his home in Orem, Utah, on Monday, March 6th, 2017, surrounded by his loving family. He was born March 27th, 1934, in Provo, Utah, to Claud 0 and Katherine Carter. He married Ellen Tafoya on October 15, 1954, in the Mesa Arizona Temple.

He served in the Air Force for 20 years as a radio operator, navigator on a B-52 and a pilot on a KC-135 Tanker (refueling aircraft). He served in Vietnam and traveled the world in his military assignments, visiting Spain, Thailand, Guam, the Philippines, and many other foreign countries.  He also worked as a registrar at UVU (Utah Valley University) for another 20 years. He loved God and his family. They were top priorities throughout his life.  He loved working in his yard/garden, fine art, music, reading, and spending time with family. Bruce loved to share stories of growing up on the dairy farm and serving in the Air Force. He was admired for his work ethic, honesty, patriotism, and dedication to family.

Bruce is survived by his wife of 62 years, Ellen J. Carter, his 5 children: Michael Carter of West Jordan, Bruce (Sharon) Carter of Weatherford, TX, Kathy (Mark) Poulsen of Lehi, Brian (LaDean Wooten-Carter) Carter of Lehi, and Elisa (Rick) Stoneman of Orem, 32 grandchildren and 56 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his granddaughter, Elena.

We appreciate the love, support, and service given to the family at this time, especially from the Envision Hospice group.

Funeral services will be held Monday, March 13, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS chapel at 1105 West 600 South, Orem, Utah. A viewing for family and friends will be held Sunday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary at 495 South State Street in Orem, and Monday at the Church from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. just prior to the service. Burial will be in the Orem City Cemetery with military rites conducted by the American Legion.

Thoughts from children:

Our father, Bruce Justin Carter Sr. passed into the world of spirits, at 10:18 pm.  We loved him dearly! We always will. We will miss him greatly!

We are overwhelmed by the many and great things he has done for us and the wonderful things we have shared together in this life. The attributes and qualities we admired most of our father was his life of service to others (he never turned anyone away), his love and dedication to his family, his honesty, his respect for others, his profound love for his wife and children, his love of his mother, his work ethic (very hard working - always had a number of projects going on), his success as a military pilot (he loved to fly), his many sacrifices on behalf of others, his sincere compassion for others, his appreciation for his pioneer heritage, his great love for the beautiful and elegant things of this life (paintings, dolls, china, etc.), his gratitude for everything good in this life, his willingness to take us on yearly vacations, his love of history (especially church history and sites), his love of the outdoors, his great pleasure in blessing the lives of others, his love for God and the restored gospel of Christ, his testimony of truth, his loving and heartfelt prayers, his upright example of accountability, responsibility and duty, his love of technology, his excitement to spend time with those he loved, his humor (he always had a joke), his deep desire to raise his children to be good men and women, his love for animals (cats, dogs, etc.) and the beauties of the earth ...and especially his love for life!  These are just a few of the things we admired and loved about our Dad!

We know our father didn’t want to leave us. He loved us so very much...HE GAVE US HIS WHOLE LIFE! We could not have had a better father!  The Lord blessed us...so perfectly.  I just hope his legacy will live on through his posterity and all those who knew and loved him!  We owe him so much...all our love.  Thanks Dad for being our father and teaching us so well!

What a glorious reunion we will have on the other side of the veil!

We Love you Dad, always!

Condolences may be left for the family on this page.