Nancy Williams Carlton

Nancy Williams Johnson Carlton, 87, of Sarasota, FL died peacefully on December 16, 2020 in Sarasota. She was born Nancy Williams on April 15, 1933 in Chicago, IL to the late Henry Williams and Annette Amaismeier Williams.

Nancy grew up in the Chicago area, graduating from high school and marrying Bruce Johnson, with whom she had a son, Glenn Williams Johnson. After Bruce Johnson’s death in 1963, she founded and operated a successful printing/publishing company in Mt. Prospect, IL with her son. Several years later, she married Franklin Carlton and after a round-the-world honeymoon, moved with him into their home on Bird Key, FL. There, she and Franklin enjoyed an active boating and social life with the Bird Key Yacht Club for many years before moving inland to the Marbella subdivision in Sarasota, FL in 1989. Franklin passed away in 2002, and Nancy remained in their home until her death.

Nancy had a wide range of knowledge and interests, and enjoyed traveling, orchids, the theater, symphony concerts and music of almost every variety, but especially that of vocal harmony, at which she excelled. In her younger years, she sang with a prize-winning Sweet Adelines quartets, and had many friends among the shows, conventions, and quartets of the barbershop harmony style which she loved.

She will be remembered for her inquisitive mind, quick wit, and generous nature reflected in the numerous charities and causes which she supported, and her loyalty and devotion to the people for whom she cared.

She is survived by her devoted partner, Bill Bamberg; nieces, Linda Verch and Suzanne Carlton; and grandchildren, Heather, Grayson, and Jack Johnson. She was preceded in death by her son, Glenn Johnson who died unexpectedly two weeks prior to Nancy’s death.