Joseph Baker Carlton Sr.

Posted on July 15, 2022

Joseph Baker Carlton Sr., age 91, of Perry passed away peacefully in his home on Tuesday, July 12, 2022. Joe was born in Perry on May 26, 1931, to Joseph Perry Carlton and Bessie Bowdoin. Due to the passing of his mother at childbirth, he was raised by his aunt and uncle, Ida Lee and Dan Malone, where he was taken in and loved as their own. Following the carpentry work of his uncle, who built forestry homes in conjunction with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), he lived mostly in tents in his earlier years. When he was very small, his brother, Lloyd, would put him on his back and climb up the fire towers to sleep at night to stay out of the bugs. He attended multiple schools throughout his youth, including Scanlon, Port St. Joe and Tampa, and was a graduate of Taylor County High School. He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1955 during the Korean War era, where he was mostly stationed in Indiana and Canada. He received special training to learn to write backwards on glass as part of his duties as a radar controller. After 32 years of service with the United States Postal Service, he retired at the age of 55. Joe described himself as a country boy because he said that he loved all things country. His favorite thing to do was net fish for mullet. If he could fill his cooler up with fish, he was calling the neighbors to come get them “a fresh mess” for supper. He also enjoyed deer hunting and anything to do with a tractor. He said, “all boys should have a tractor, whether they’re young or old.” His greatest loves though were his Lord, the Bible and his family. Saved at a tent revival when he was a teenager, he remained dedicated and faithful to his Lord. He had been known to get out of bed and get up to read the Bible if he had forgotten to do it earlier that day. He is survived by: his wife of 65 years, Ernestine Shiver Carlton; three daughters and one son, Denise McGuire (Walt), Joey Carlton (Amy), Sandy Hunter (Mike) and Lisa Carlton, all of Perry; and his grandchildren, Shannon McGuire, Shawn McGuire, Adam Carlton, Laura Beauchamp, Kris Hunter, Robert Hunter and Jennifer Holden; as well as other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held on Thursday, July 14, at 10 a.m. at Burns Funeral Home of Perry with the Rev. Sammy Bass officiating. Interment services followed in Carlton Cemetery. The family received friends Wednesday, July 13, from 6-7 p.m., at the funeral home.