Jack Cartwright, 91, of High Point, NC, died on Sunday, May 2, 2021 at home with family, following a brief illness. Jack was a loving and devoted husband, father, friend and mentor and known to all for his kindness, fairness and generosity.
Jack was born on December 22,1929 in Sparta, Michigan to Manley and Matie Cartwright.
He was a graduate of the city of Grant, Michigan Public School(K-12)where as a teenager he played football and at halftime played drums in the band!
After graduation from school in 1947,Jack enlisted in the U.S. Airforce and served as a USAF 070 Draftsman. In 1948,his drafting talent saw him stationed to Tokyo, Japan and the Far East Service where he worked on the staff of General Douglas MacArthur drawing maps for U.S. Intelligence.
Upon returning home in 1950, Jack attended Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He excelled in furniture and product design and graduated Designer of the Year in 1953.In August of 1953, Jack married fellow student and Interior Design Major, Mary Lee Finnigan and they moved to High Point NC where he began his long career in furniture as a designer for Heritage Furniture Company. In 1956, he joined Founders Furniture as head designer and vice-president of the company.
In April of 1963, Jack founded Jack Cartwright, Inc. Very different from his past work in residential design, at Cartwright he designed and manufactured contemporary, contract furniture. Over the years he received numerous awards for his furniture designs, residential and contract, and those designs gained him special recognition in the U.S. and abroad.
Jack was generous with his time and talent and enjoyed hosting design students from across the country at annual Student Design Rallies through I.B.D. He was particularly involved with the programs at the East Carolina University School of Art and Design and the North Carolina State University School of Design.
In his earlier years, Jack enjoyed sailing on Lake Norman. He had his pilots license and owned a small fleet of Cessna airplanes and spent hours in the air.
He restored a Great Lakes airplane and loved flying in the open cockpit with goggles and leather cap.
He and Mary enjoyed walks on the beach at their home on Hilton Head Island.
He also enjoyed his time spent with fellow volunteers at the Davidson County 10-A Fire Department.
Jack was preceded in death by his wife of over 60 years, Mary, and his two older brothers, Dick Cartwright (Margaret),and Don Cartwright (Ida).
He is survived by daughters Molly Bibee (Chuck) of High Point and Beth Sutton(Widow of Hal)of Barnum, Wyoming.
Jack is much loved by his six grandchildren Carty Bibee (Katherine)of Charleston, S.C.; Mike Sutton (Cassidy) of Casper, Wyoming; Greg Bibee (Stephanie)of Raleigh, N.C.; Matt Sutton (Genea) of Casper, Wyoming; Jack Sutton (Britni) of Charlotte, N.C. and Cissy Kalkwarf (Kevin)of Frisco, Texas.
Very special to him and he to them are great grandchildren Mila Sutton, Willow Sutton, Andrew Sutton, May Bibee, Jack Bibee, Gaitlin Sutton, Kate Kalkwarf, Marnie Bibee, Halley Sutton, Caroline Kalkwarf, Finn Sutton and Brooks Bibee.
A Prayer Service will be held on Thursday, May 13,2021 at 5:00 at Sechrest Davis Funeral Home in High Point with Deacon Walter Haarsgaard as Celebrant.
The family will receive friends following that service from 6:00-8:00 at the funeral home.
Family members are grateful for the kindness and care given to Jack by Hospice in Home of the Piedmont.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice Home of the Piedmont, 1803 Westchester Drive, High Point, N.C. 27262, www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org
Online condolences for Jack may be made at www.sechrestdavislexingtonavenue.com
