George A. Carlson Sr.

George Alfred Carlson, age 92, died on February 8 2012 at St Vincent’s Hospital. His daughter and friends were with him when he passed. He was born September 13, 1913 in Woodhaven, Long Island, New York, the eldest son of George Godfrey Carlson and Esther Erlandson Carlson. He was valedictorian of his Blairstown, N.J. High School class and went on to New York University where he earned a B.S. in Marketing 1941. In 1942 he joined Douglas Aircraft for an overseas mission that began before the U.S. officially entered the war. His voyage on the U.S.A.T. Monterey to South Africa was documented in his letters to his father, which were published as The Voyage in 2007 by BookSurge Publishing. He went on to the Persian Gulf and India repairing aircraft propellers as part of the war effort and returned to the U.S after the war ended.

He started his advertising career in Philadelphia and went on to Nashville, Tennessee and finally to Jacksonville. Among his many accounts were Carrier Air Conditioning, United Airlines, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Philip Morris. He also wrote for the Jacksonville Electric Authority, Jacksonville Magazine, and Folio. He was an avid reader and enjoyed discussing books with his friends.

He married Aldona Kukcinovich Carlson in Philadelphia who died in 1985. He is survived by three children, George A. Carlson, Jr. of Great Falls, Montana, Mary Anne Carlson of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and John Christopher Carlson of Portland, Oregon, and one grandchild, George Benjamin Carlson who lives with his wife in Portland. He also is survived by his special friend Chelle Delaney of San Antonio, Texas.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday 15 February at 2 P.M in the Chapel-Activity Room of Sundale Manor, 3505 Corby Street, Jacksonville, Florida. In lieu of flowers donations to The Jacksonville Public Library or a charity of the donor’s choosing are requested.Arrangements entrusted to: Hardage Giddens Funeral Home Edgewood Chapel.