Billy Joe Carson

Bill is survived by his wife, Cheryl, who loved and adored him; his three children, who cherish their dad, Lisa VerValin of Elmira New York, Joe Carson and wife Rhonda, and Tracy Seibert and husband Drew; eight grandchildren (Christopher, Meghann, Joe, Eric, Hayley, Shannon, Sarah and Ian) and two great grandchildren (Jameson and Jade) who all thought the world of their Papa.

He was preceded in death by his father Oliver Carson, mother Rachel Swanger and stepfather Daniel Swanger, brother Garry Carson and sister Judy Stobbe, and first wife, Liz Carson.

His father, Oliver, died in a trucking accident when Bill was only three. His mother Rachel was determined to keep and care for her two boys, Bill and Garry, and eventually moved from the farm in Missouri to Wichita, KS, where she met and married Daniel Swanger. Bill’s stepfather inspired him to study Electrical Engineering at Wichita State where he graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree.

Bill began his career with the Federal Aviation Administration--a job he loved, traveling from airport to airport in the Midwest to install VOR systems. After marrying his first wife, Liz, he settled down and began working in the aerospace industry. His three children were born during this time when his work would take him between California and Florida.

He came to Brevard County with the Apollo program and continued through Skylab and the Space Shuttle programs. Bill was proud to have managed the ILMF lab and KSC TV along with other data systems that provided technical support for space flights until his retirement in 2004.

He enjoyed scuba diving for many years through the Kennedy Space Center Barracudas, playing softball for the GTSI team, and golfing with his KSC friends.

During his time with Grumman Technical Services at KSC, he met and married, Cheryl, in 1988 (He played first base and she played second on the softball team). Bill especially loved family adventures and celebrations, like holiday gatherings and birthday parties, trips to the Keys, and hosting overnight New Year’s Eve parties for the grandkids when they were young. Bill also loved cruising and he and Cheryl traveled to Caribbean destinations nearly every September for their anniversary, often accompanied by friends Sandy and Larry and Nancy and Rick. He was pleased to have gotten back on the not-too-high seas to celebrate his birthday last year.

One of his greatest joys was attending church where he was a faithful worshiper. He especially loved the music ministry. Bill’s last time to worship at Rockledge Presbyterian was Easter Sunday with the whole pew filled with four of his grandkids, his wife, and daughter, Tracy.

He was an ordained Ruling Elder and Deacon in the PC(USA). He also taught the Middle School Sunday School class with Cheryl for a number of years. Bill enjoyed fellowshipping with his church family too, participating in covered dish meals, church retreats, picnics, concerts, and much more.

In the last year of his life, you could often hear Bill say, as tears welled up in his eyes, that he loved his kids and grandkids and was proud of the people they had become and all they were accomplishing in life. And he was blessed beyond measure in his life with his wife and family. If you would ask Bill how he was doing, he would reply, “It doesn’t get any better than this.” Now, that is more true than ever as we stand in the promise of his resurrection.

The family invites you to attend Bill’s memorial and service of the resurrection at Rockledge Presbyterian Church, 921 Rockledge Drive, May 31st at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Rockledge Presbyterian Church for the RHS Children’s Hunger Project, 921 Rockledge Drive, Rockledge, FL 32955. In the memo line of your check, please note “Bill Carson.”