Robert Raymon “Bob” Carter peacefully passed away surrounded by loved ones at Summit Pacific Hospital in Elma, Washington on Dec. 18, 2022.

Bob was born on March 30, 1935, in Seattle, Washington, and was the eldest of five children born to Willis and Eleanor Carter. He was raised in the area now known as Sea-Tac. Bob graduated from Highline High School and after graduation worked for Boeing for a short time before going into the Air Force.

After serving in the Air Force Bob went to work for the Telephone Company where he met Arlene Lorraine Hamilton. They married in 1957. They had three children, Cheryl Lorraine, Jeffery Raymon and Robert Clifton. They settled on Bainbridge Island to raise their family and lived there for a number of years. They later divorced.

While living on Bainbridge Island he taught boating safety for the Coast Guard Auxiliary. He was a former member of the Poulsbo Yacht Club.

Bob married Cathy Smith Carver on March 6, 1982, and they settled in Federal Way, Washington. They moved to Montesano, Washington in 2004 and have lived there for the past 18 years.

Bob retired from U.S. West Communications as an engineering manager and immediately went back to work as an engineer for Air-Inc and later for Martin Marietta. He provided engineering support for the FAA at the Auburn, Washington office.

Bob had many hobbies and talents. He was a model railroader. He loved to ride his Gold Wing motorcycle and took his sons and Cathy on many adventures. He learned to tune pianos and restored several player pianos. He was a collector of antique phonographs and tube radios as well as old 78 rpm records.

After moving to Montesano he opened his antique phonograph and radio museum in order to share his collection with others. He was a ham radio operator (W7TSS) and a member of the Grays Harbor amateur radio club. He loved music and decided to take piano lessons in his late 60s. He played guitar and banjo and was an active member of the Grays Harbor Banjo Band. He loved to fish, especially fly fishing and tied his own flies.

He served the community in a number of capacities. He was a Boy Scout leader. He served on the King County Juvenile Conference Committee which was a court-appointed position to deal with teenagers that were in trouble. He loved to pass on his knowledge of electronics and radio restoration to the younger generation and enjoyed teaching a class for this purpose.

Bob loved his many pets and all wildlife. Memorial donations can be made to the Twin Harbors Wildlife Center or Grays Harbor PAWS.

Bob is survived by his wife, Cathy; his children Cheri Shrader (Steve), Jeff Carter (April), and Rob Carter (Sheri); Cathy’s children, Russell Carver (Dawn), and Greer Carver El- Gohary (Moudy); his brother, Richard Carter (Laverne), his sisters, Betty Carter Abbott and Barbara Carter Carpenter (Ron), 13 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Bob was preceded in death by his brother Ted Carter and his wife Colleen and son Robert G. “Bobby” Carver.

A memorial service will be held at Saint John’s Catholic Church in Montesano on Friday, Jan. 20 at 11 a.m. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall.

To share memories or to leave a condolence for the family, please visit www.harrisonfamilymortuary.com. Arrangements entrusted to Harrison Family Mortuary.