Charles Harry Carroll

Charles Harry Carroll, passed away on September 3, 2018 at his home in Old Fort, NC. He was born in Mecklenburg County NC on August 20, 1929 to the late Amzie Edward Carroll and Eulelia Pearl Wrape Carroll.

After graduation from high school in 1948 in Charlotte NC, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He completed basic training at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas and was assigned to Scott AFB. While there in May of 1949, he married his late wife, Nada Carolyn Burgin.

He was a veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam wars. During his 20-year military career, he also spent time at Yokota AFB, Japan and in later years Charleston AFB, SC where he was when he retired from active duty. The next ten years were spent working as a civil servant for NAVSEACENLANT, a division of the United States Navy.

Following the death of his father-in-law, Harry Burgin in 1984, he and Nada moved to Old Fort. They both shared a concern for local historic preservation, and he was involved in the effort to save the old Train Depot beside the well-known Arrowhead Monument. He was also a member of the Heritage Foundation that achieved not only that goal, but also started the Christmas lighting tradition, developed the small park located in downtown Old Fort between Main and Railroad Streets and created both Pioneer Day at the Mountain Gateway Museum and Ole Mountain Christmas.

Harry was an avid gardener, enjoying every stage of the process from tilling the ground until the soil resembled “soft brown velvet” to planting and harvesting. He found joy in taking care of a brood of chickens that began with one, Chicken Big and grew to include Chicken Little, and a number of Black Cochins, including his favorite rooster, Joseph. Birds, squirrels and chipmunks were frequent visitors to the feeders he and Nada stocked around their home, as were a number of stray cats that took up residence over the years. These cats and their interaction with Harry became the subject of “Grandfather’s Ark”, a book of stories written by Nada in the years preceding her death. The book was published earlier this year and the profit from its sales benefit animal rescue organizations in McDowell County, a fitting final tribute to them both. Books on various subjects were always a part of his life, and Friends of the Library had his support as did the Friends of Mountain Gateway Museum.

Harry was a long-time member of Bethel United Methodist Church where he rang the bell every Sunday morning. He sang in the choir and served in various other capacities over the years. In his later years, he attended Old Fort United Methodist Church.

Harry was preceded in death by his wife, Nada Carolyn Burgin, a brother, Amzie Edward Carroll, Jr. and a sister, Elaine McDaniel as well as his parents, Amzie Edward and Eulelia Pearl Wrape Carroll. He is survived by his daughter Anita Carroll Edmonds of Marion, his son Harry Burgin Carroll of Old Fort, his daughter Margaret Anna Fretwell and husband David Fretwell of Old Fort, nine grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. Donations in Harry’s memory may be made to CarePartners Hospice and Palliative Care - McDowell, 575 Airport Road, Marion, NC 28752, Foothills Conservancy, P. O. Box 3023, Morganton, NC 28655 or Healing Hearts Small Animal Rescue, P. O. Box 1321, Old Fort, NC 28762. A memorial service to honor the lives of both Harry and Nada will be held at a later date.