William Wayne (Bill) Carter

William Wayne (Bill) Carter, proud Marine Corps veteran and longtime Dallas County businessman, died peacefully in his sleep on Sept. 21, 2024, at his home in Sunnyvale, Texas.

Bill was born on Nov. 12, 1929, in Winnfield, Louisiana, where he graduated from high school. He enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of 16, and served in the Korean War as Administrative Chief of the First Marine Division Historical Section. For his service in Korea he received a Medal of Commendation with a Combat "V," which is awarded for combat valor or heroism, or for a member's actions under circumstances other than combat. He was later assigned to the U.S.S. Independence in the Caribbean during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He remained a Marine for over 20 years, including as a highly successful recruiting coordinator, and retired with the rank of Master Sergeant E-8.

While stationed at Parris Island, South Carolina, he met his bride-to-be, Azalee Hoyle. They were married in 1955 and had two children, Sandra and William Jr. After being honorably discharged from the Marines, Bill moved his family to Mesquite, Texas, where he began a long career in real estate and insurance. The Carter Insurance Agency on Galloway Avenue in Mesquite provided fire and casualty insurance in Dallas County for over 30 years. Bill was also a partner in Daniel & Carter Real Estate during these years.

Bill was very active in community affairs in both Mesquite and Sunnyvale, his home since 1983. He was a founding member of the Elks Lodge; secretary of the Mesquite Planning and Zoning committee; and a candidate for Mesquite Mayor in 1978. An avid fan of traditional country music, Bill's hobbies included restoring old classic fiddles. He had a gift for storytelling, drawing from a wealth of interesting experiences and delivering stories with remarkable detail and plenty of humor. He was also a voracious reader, and served on the Sunnyvale Library Committee.

Bill closed his real estate and insurance businesses in 2000, and had a "second career" as Chief Courtesy Officer of The Waterford, an assisted living center in Mesquite.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Azalee Carter. He is succeeded by a daughter, Sandra Carter-Wattles, of Austin, Texas; a son, William W. Carter Jr., of Sunnyvale; and five grandchildren.