William Charles "W. C." Carlow

W. C. Carlow was born January 2, 1933, at home on a small farm in the community of Lanesport in Williamson County, Texas. He passed away on Saturday, August 11, 2007, at the age of 74, after a five year battle with cancer. He was the eldest of William Albert and Mabel Mary Tidwell Carlow?s four children. W. C. attended schools in Friendship, Granger, Thrall, and was a 1950 graduate of Taylor High School, where he was known for his exceptional and gifted woodworking and leathercraft abilities. Mr. Carlow joined the U. S. Navy in March of 1951, taking basic training in San Diego, CA. He was assigned to the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station. He applied for drafting school and was trained as a draftsman in San Diego. Later, he was ordered to serve aboard the U. S. S. Markab until he was honorably discharged in March of 1955 with rank of Draftsman 2nd class. After the Navy, Mr. Carlow worked in Dallas for Temco Aircraft and Lone Star Boat Co. He then attended Paris Junior College, Paris, TX, and Lamar Tech in Beaumont. He also worked as a deckhand aboard a tugboat, then as a draftsman for Magnolia Petroleum, a division of Mobil Oil Co., before transferring to the S. S. Socona. Mr. Carlow started his first business, Carlow Iron and Metal in 1958. Other companies he owned and operated include, C & C Wrecking Co., Hi Lite Products, Inc., Resinex Equipment Inc., and Resinex Designs. Business memberships included, American Rental Association, Texas Rental Association, Portable Sanitation Association, where he served two terms on the Board of Directors, and Founder and First President of Fiberglass Fabrication Association, now known as American Composites Manufacturers Association, of which he was also awarded a lifetime membership in 1985. After selling his business in 1985, he continued to work in management and designing various products for manufacture, until his retirement on December 31, 2002. While he enjoyed many different hobbies during his lifetime, he probably, spent more time on genealogy than all the rest. For the last fifteen years, W.C. had been writing his life?s story in book form, ?It Is Hard to Miss Something You Never Had?. Funeral services for W. C. Carlow, 74, of Gladewater, will be held at 12 Noon, Wednesday, August 15, 2007, in the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home, 1617 Judson Rd., Longview, with Mr. Earl Roberts, a cousin-in-law of Mr. Carlow, from Madisonville, TX., officiating. Interment will follow in Rosewood Park Cemetery. Mr. Carlow was preceded in death by a daughter, Cecilie Gayle Carlow, parents, and brother, Douglas Delano Carlow. He is survived by his wife, Fonda Jane Ryan Carlow, who he married on January 21, 1959, in Athens, TX; son, Kevin Keith Carlow of Gladewater, TX; his loving sidekick ?Curly?; sister, Val Jean Carlow Blair and husband, Roy, of Seagoville, TX; brother, Kenneth Terry Carlow and wife, Linda, of Alvarado, TX; as well as many other loving family and friends. The family will receive friends at the funeral home, Tuesday evening, from 6 to 7 PM. The family asks that memorial donations be made to the Arthur Temple Cancer Center, 1201 W. Frank Avenue, Lufkin, TX, 75904. Special thanks go out to Beverly Jernigan; Anna Gonzales; Michelle Phelan, Nurse Practitioner, Overton Brooks Veterans Hospital, Shreveport, LA.; Dr. Jon Caster, Lehman Eye Center, Nacogdoches, TX; Dr. Sidney Roberts and staff; Temple Cancer Center, Lufkin, TX; Dr. Ronald Scott, Longview Cardiology; and Care Team Home Health staff. A memorial guestbook may be signed at www.raderfh.com

William Charles "W. C." Carlow

January 2, 1933 - August 11, 2007