Elizabeth P. Carter

Elizabeth P Carter was born on the 5th of August 1919, in Port Arthur, Texas to Joseph S. Park and Edith Hemingway Park, as part of a pioneer family that moved there from Clinton Iowa around the turn of the century. Her grandfather was the first postmaster of Port Arthur, and her father was president of one of the local banks. She loved all outdoors and during the summers in her childhood, she spent most of her time at Camp Waldemar, either as a camper or later as a counselor. She held the distinction of being the camp bugler. She attended LaSalle College in Boston, MA and later attended and graduated from the University of Texas where she was a proud member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority. Through both camp and UT she made and kept many wonderful lifelong friends.

After college, she became a school teacher in Houston and during World War II, she met on a blind date W. Winthrop Carter III, a lieutenant in the navy, who was home on leave. After a short courtship they were married in Coral Gables, Florida where he was stationed. They later moved back to Houston at the end of the war to start their lives together and were married for 55 years until his death in 2000.

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband and her brother, the late Robert H Park.

She is survived by her sister, Suzanne Park Kingsbery of Beaumont; her son, Kenneth Park Carter and wife Mary; grandchildren, Kenneth Park Carter Jr., Claire Carter deRoode and husband David, and John Winthrop Carter; her sister-in-law, Helen Carter Stewart and husband Robert; and many nephews and nieces. She is also survived by Catharine V. Carter and Mary Rose Kesser.

Betty Carter loved her family and devoted her life to her husband Winthrop and her son Kenny and her extended family. She had a quick wit and always could brighten up a room with her smile or her laugh when surrounded by family and friends. She had a

passion for music and was a beautiful pianist. Betty often played the piano at family gatherings, for friends, at Pi Beta Phi meetings and later for charity events and retirement

homes. She was a member of Saint Martin’s Episcopal Church, the Colonneh Wives Club, a past president of Pi Beta Phi Alumni Club, Junior League of Houston and Houston Country Club.

The family wishes to give appreciation to the staff at the Hampton at Tanglewood where she spent the last years of her life. A very special thanks is extended to Marti Cazares and Dolly Campos for their loving care and kindness.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from half-past five o’clock in the afternoon until half-past seven o’clock in the evening on Tuesday, the 1st of June, in the Library of Geo H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

The memorial service is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, the 2nd of June, at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road in Houston, where the Rev. F. Stuart Shelby, Associate Rector for Family Ministries, and the Rev. Katherine F. Picot, Curate, are to officiate.

Immediately following the service, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent Bagby Parish Hall.

Prior to the service, the family will have gathered for a private interment and graveside service at Memorial Oaks Cemetery.

In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in memory of Mrs. Carter may be directed to Holly Hall, 2000 Holly Hall Street, Houston, TX, 77054.