He was born July 10, 1924, in Wilkes County, and was the last of ten children of Dallas and Myrtle Gilliam Carter. He served in the US Army during World War II, participating in twelve battles and campaigns in Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, WWII Victory Medal, EAME Service Medal with four bronze stars, American Theater Service Award, and the Good Conduct Medal. He was a former deacon for 20 years at Beulah Baptist Church and since 1978, was a member of Harmony United Methodist Church where he filled in for the music director for 30 years. He retired from the United States Postal Service, was an avid rabbit hunter and loved ACC basketball.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death on August 12, 1975, by his first wife, Mary Wood Carter.
He is survived by his wife, Peggy Campbell Carter, whom he married on August 13, 1977; three sons, Douglas Edsel (Betty Jo) Carter of Charlotte, the Rev. Daryl Wood (Sharon) Carter of Midway and Mark Edwin (Beverly) Carter of Harmony; two step daughters, Kathy LeStrange (Ray) of Winston-Salem and Cindy Liles (Danny) of Danville, Va., nine grandchildren, Jeremy Carter, Andrew Carter, Chip Carter, Chad Carter, James LeStrange, Chris Blackwood, Danielle Carter McDaniel, Sarah LeStrange, and Lauren Carter; three great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral service celebrating Edsel’s life will be held at 1:00 PM Saturday, February 23, 2013, with the Rev. Neal Jones and the Rev. Donnie Durham officiating. Military honors will be accorded by the Harmony American Legion Post 113. He will lie in state at the church for one hour prior to the service. The family will receive friends Saturday at the church immediately following the service. A private burial will follow at Iredell Memorial Gardens.
Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.reavisfuneralhomeharmony.com.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lottie Moon Offering, 3806 Monument Avenue, P.O. Box 6767, Richmond, VA 23230-0767; or to Gordon Hospice House, 2341 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625.
Reavis Funeral Home of Harmony is entrusted with the arrangements.
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