George Allen Carver

On January 31, 2003, Major General George Allen Carver, U.S. Army Ret., age 93, beloved husband of nearly 66 years of Barbara Ellen Bristol Carver of San Antonio, Texas, died at Parklane West Healthcare Center, San Antonio, Texas.

General Carver was graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point in 1933, and was commissioned a second lieutenant of Field Artillery. His 33-year Army career began with service in mounted units of horse-drawn artillery. An accomplished horseman, he participated regularly in polo and horse show activities.

General Carver had a long and distinguished career with the Army. During World War II, he commanded the 542nd Field Artillery Battalion of the 42nd Infantry Division, a part of General Patton's Army. After the War, he stayed on occupation duty and was assigned as the Town Commander in Wels, Austria. As such, he facilitated moving the Lipizzans of the Spanish Riding School to Wels so they could use the Riding Hall and be stabled there. Later, he moved to Vienna, Austria to serve as Assistant Inspector General on General Mark Clark's staff. His numerous command and senior staff assignments included Operations Officer of VII Corps at Ft. George G. Meade and in Europe; Commanding Officer, 18th Field Artillery Group in Germany; Secretary of the Artillery and Missile School, Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, Commanding Officer, 2nd Guided Missile Group, Ft. Bliss, Texas; Commanding Officer, U.S. Army Training Center Air Defense, Ft. Bliss; Commanding General, 1st Guided Missile Brigade, Ft. Bliss; Commanding General, 7th Infantry Division Artillery, Korea; Chief of the Artillery Officers Division in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Pentagon; Commanding General of IV U.S. Army Corps, Birmingham, Alabama; and Commanding General, U.S. Army Alaska. He was a graduate of the Artillery Branch School, the Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College.

His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. He also received the Distinguished Service Citation twice from the Reserve Officers Association. In June 1966, General Carver retired from the Army. The Chief of Staff of the Army immediately appointed him to serve as the Director of Army Emergency Relief AER, and he and Mrs. Carver established residence in Arlington, Virginia. As Director, he made numerous improvements in the overall operation of this worldwide organization, whose basic mission is to collect and hold funds and to relieve distress of personnel of the Army and their dependents. He retired from AER in June 1976, after ten years of service. The AER Board of Managers by special resolution recognized his outstanding service and made him a Life Member of AER; and the Secretary of the Army awarded him the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal for his actions as AER Director.

In 1989, he and his wife, Barbara, moved to The Towers in San Antonio, Texas. In retirement, General Carver was active in West Point Class of 1933 affairs as a class vice president, enjoyed a number of hobbies, and focused on family activities.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara; his daughter, Barbara, widow of Lieutenant General William H. Schneider and Executive Director of the World Affairs Council of San Antonio; his son, George Allen Carver, Jr., of Fairfax Station, Virginia, a 1964 graduate of the United States Military Academy and retiree from the Senior Executive Service of the U.S. Department of Justice; his daughter-in-law, Joan Page Carver; six grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; and a sister, Joy Vee Williamson of Atlanta, Georgia.