Barbara Bristol Carver

Barbara Bristol Carver passed away peacefully Saturday, November 21st at the age of 103.

She was a true San Antonio girl, born to loving parents, Matt Combs Bristol and Edith Genevieve Huffman. She had one brother, Matt C. Bristol, deceased. Her father and brother were career Army Officers, and each retired as a Colonel. She resided for most of her younger years in San Antonio with her parents. In 1935, she graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Science Degree and was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. Soon after graduation she met Army Second Lieutenant George Allen Carver ("Charlie"). They married at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio in 1937. They then embarked together on an extraordinary lifetime of adventure, challenges and achievements.

Charlie passed away in 2003. He enjoyed 33 years of active service in the Army. Following his retirement, as a Major General, he served as Director of Army Emergency Relief for almost ten years. His achievements were hers as well as his, for she was his strongest supporter and advisor throughout his career. Wherever Charlie was stationed, she quickly became known as a warm, friendly, and grand lady, who was active in civic affairs, service to the business community, and youth programs. Most of all, she provided a loving home for Charlie and their two children, Barbara and Allen.

She faced many challenges while an Army wife. One of the most notable was in 1946, when she and her two young children traveled to Vienna, Austria to join Charlie. She drove from San Antonio to New York City where they boarded the ship Alexander to cross the Atlantic. While en route, the ship encountered a severe storm and an occasional floating mine.

After Charlie retired from the Army they settled in Arlington, Virginia. She, in her 60s, began a career as a real estate agent. She was highly successful, awarded Sales Agent of the Year in 1972, by the company she was associated with and was awarded membership in the Million Dollar Sales Club because of her outstanding sales record in 1974-1975. They left Northern Virginia in 1989, and resettled in San Antonio at the USAA Towers.

She passed away in the Lakeside Villas, the Assisted Living Center at the Army Residence Community in San Antonio. The family is deeply grateful to the Lakeside Villas staff and the hospice caregivers who were so very kind.

Survivors include her children Barbara Schneider Rattan and husband, Major General Donald V. Rattan, son George Allen Carver, Jr. and wife Joan, grandchildren Colonel Michael W. Schneider and wife Susan, Colonel David A. Schneider and wife Kate, Catherine Schneider Hollis and husband Colonel Thomas S. Hollis, Patricia Schneider Cade and husband William S. Cade, George Allen Carver III and wife Lisa, Robert William Carver, fourteen great grandchildren and two great-great grand children. She was predeceased by her husband and also by her son-in-law, Lieutenant General William H. Schneider.

The service will be held at Porter Loring Mortuary Chapel, 1101 McCullough Avenue, Wednesday, December 2nd, at 10:00 am. A reception will be announced at the service. Interment will follow at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, at 11:30 am.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 1218 Arion Parkway, Suite 102, San Antonio, Texas 78216; Army Emergency Relief, 200 Stovall Street, Room 5533, Alexandria, VA 22332; or charity of your choice.

Arrangements with

PORTER LORING

1101 MCCULLOUGH 227-8221