Randall (Randy) Eugene Carter (76) of Springfield, IL passed away at Memorial Hospital in Springfield, IL after his 17-year battle with kidney cancer and aortic aneurysm with many of his family by his side on Tuesday December 24th, 2024.
He was born on December 12th, 1948, in Springfield to Harold Carter and Antoinette Vespa. Randy was a St. Cabrini and Griffin High School graduate and also attended Springfield College in Illinois and Sangamon State University in business management. He married his loving wife, Joyce (VanDerWal) of 53 years on January 30th, 1971. Randy and Joyce went on to have two children Mike Carter and Jamie Singer.
After graduating from Griffin High School, Randy joined the Army and proceeded to graduate from both Jungle Expert School, Recondo Army School and was a chemical warfare teacher in the Panama Canal Zone before an honorable discharge from the Army and began a 30+ year career as an insurance agent with American Family and eventually as an independent agent and partner in Parienti/Carter Insurance Agency. Before retiring, Randy ran an Archway Cookie distributorship where he enjoyed serving numerous establishments across Central Illinois.
After retirement, Randy enjoyed betting on the ponies and explaining all his near wins to Joyce and he shared his passion for baseball cards on to his family. Many nights were filled rooting on the University of Illinois basketball team, trying his luck on a video poker machine, sharing his memories and opinions (not always quietly) on all things sports to anyone that shared his passion. Over the last 17+ years, you would usually find Randy and Joyce traveling across any and all states to watch and root for each of their four grandchildren through all of their school sports and many, many competitive travel games/tournaments (baseball, football, soccer, volleyball and basketball).
Randy was preceded in death by his parents Harold Carter and Antoinette Vespa.
He is survived by his wife Joyce, son Michael (Brenda) Carter, daughter Jamie (Brandon) Singer, both of Sherman; IL, a brother, Robert (Nancy) Carter; sister, Diane (Paul) Simmons-Carter; and his four grandchildren that were his pride and joy: Connor and Kyle Carter and Braylon and Jayla Singer, all of Sherman, IL. He enjoyed many laughs and stories with his brother-in-law, Edward VanDerWal, and sisters-in-law, Sharon Graham and Deborah (Bill) Turner, and many nieces and nephews that he loved dearly.
Visitation for Randy will be held at Butler Funeral Home-Springfield, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield, on December 31, 2024, from 8:30-10:00 with a service to Celebrate Randy's life following.
Burial with Military Honors will be at Camp Butler National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to a charity of the donor's preference.
