QUANTICO—Thomas William Carter III, LTC, (USMC Retired), 73, passed away on September 20, 2017, surrounded by his loving family. He was born December 5, 1943.
Tom proudly served his country until his retirement in 1985. During his service he completed two combat tours in Vietnam with multiple awards for gallantry, flying over 400 combat missions. He completed U.S. Navy Test Pilot School and two tours as a test pilot, served on the staff of the Board of Inspection and Survey, and culminated an exceptional military career with his assignment in the office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E).
Tom’s role in DOT&E was so significant that he was awarded the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Award in 1996. Tom retired in 2014, after 25 years with DOT&E.
Tom is survived by his loving wife, Jane Connor Carter; children, Kimberly Summy (Larry Cox), Scott Carter (Wendy Firlotte), Elizabeth Randall and Sarah Jarboe (Mark Jarboe); grandsons Tyler Summy, Ryan Summy, Xavier Carter, Alec Jarboe and Brendan Jarboe; and sisters, Ann Henderson and Molly Carter; and many extended family and friends.
Tom is preceded in death by his sister, Jane Hayes Carter.
A service was held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, September 26, at the Quantico Marine Memorial Chapel. Burial followed at 2 p.m., at Quantico National Cemetery with full military honors.
Online guestbook is available at CovenantFuneralService.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, which stands as a lasting tribute to those who have sacrificed for the nation. http://www.marineheritage.org/makedonation.html, in the name of Thomas W. Carter III.
