O B I T U A R Y
Col. William Otto Carter, Jr.
Col. William Otto Carter, Jr., was born in Sweetwater, Texas, October 30, 1916, to Mr. and Mrs. William Otto Carter, Sr.
He graduated from Sweetwater High School in 1934 and was a former student of John Tarleton Junior College and Texas A & M. He joined the Army Air Corps a month after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He trained at Parks Air College, St. Louis, Missouri; Randolph Field, San Antonio, Texas and received his wings and commission at Foster Field, in Victoria, Texas on October 9, 1942. His combat training was next, at Westover Field, Mass. and from there he received his overseas assignment. He had 190 missions and 500 operational hours in the South Pacific as a flight leader and squadron commander of a P-47 Thunderbolt Fighter Squadron.
On his return to the States, he was assigned to the Abilene Air Base as a Test Pilot and was in charge of post graduate training. Col. Carter stayed in the Air Force Reserve and was assigned to the Air Force Academy as Liaison Officer Coordinator for 10 years. He had a total of 34 years, nine months and six days of military service. He retired as a full colonel.
In 1945, he married his high school sweetheart, Lillian Pratt. He was assigned to the Abilene Air Force Base at that time,. and they lived in Abilene for many years. They moved to Denton Valley, in Callahan County and were members of Abilene Bible Church.
Otto was a member of the Caterpillar Club, Daedalians Military Pilots Org., National Rifle Assoc., Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, Thunderbolt Pilots' Assoc., The Distinguished Flying Cross Society; Abilene Road Riders' Motorcycle Club (Charter Member); V.F.W., Thousand Trails R.V. Club and the 340th and 460th Fighter Squadrons of the 348th Fighter Group - 5th Air Force.
He is survived by his wife, Lillian; two daughters, Carol Ann (and J.D.) Glasscock of Dallas and Suzanne (and R.L) Westerfield of Arlington, Texas; a son, Wm. Otto III (and Susan) Carter, of Abilene; four grandchildren, Amy and David Glasscock and Aaron and Hayley Westerfield; a sister, Mrs. Katherine Wells of Richardson; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.