https://archive.triblive.com/news/obituaries/unity-man-was-a-real-people-person/
Unity man was "a real people person"
George Carter of Unity had a lifelong love for Penn State, where he met his future wife in the 1950s at a church activity in State College.
Carter, a student from Hazelton, met Joyce, also a Penn State student, at a Wesley Foundation function at St. Paul's United Methodist Church. The couple were married in her hometown of Middletown in January 1954, a few days after his graduation, Joyce Carter said.
“He was a true Penn Stater,” she said, noting that he entered Penn State when it still was a college and graduated after it had been designated as a university. He “bled blue” all his life and had season tickets to Penn State football for nearly 50 years, rarely missing a game.
George F. Carter, 86, died Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017, at his home.
He was born Sept. 5, 1931, in Hazelton, the son of the late Marian and Foster Cater.
He went to Penn State on a Navy scholarship and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. After graduation, he opted to serve in the Marine Corps for three years, rather than the Navy, so he could be stationed closer to his wife, she said. He remained connected to the Marine Corps, serving in the reserves until he made the rank of captain.
“He was a proud Marine,” his wife said.
His career began at Pittsburgh-based Alcoa, which took him to Cleveland and Jackson, Mich. He spent the last 20 years working for Minnotte Manufacturing Corp. in Pittsburgh.
In the 1960s Mr. Carter also operated Sigma 4 Express, a trucking company based in the Latrobe area. It hauled beer from Milwaukee to distributors in Western Pennsylvania. He later sold the business and returned to engineering.
He was an active member in his community, volunteering for many organizations, including Meals on Wheels, Kiwanis, Jaycees, Latrobe Hospital and the Boy Scouts.
Mr. Carter was an avid bridge player and enjoyed trains, railroads and reading, particularly Civil War books. He took the family to trips to the famed Civil War battlefield of Gettysburg.
“He was a real people person. He enjoyed life,” Joyce Carter said.
In addition to his wife of 63 years, he is survived by a daughter, Darcy Mortazavi and husband, Steven, of Allentown; son Randy Carter of Reno, Nev.; and daughter-in-law, Olivia Carter; and grandson Sam Mortazavi.
A celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in Middletown United Methodist Church, 1050 Middletown Road, Hempfield. Hartman-Graziano Funeral Home Inc., Latrobe, is handling arrangements.
Memorial donations may be made to Middletown United Methodist Church, 1050 Middletown Road, Greensburg, PA 15601, or Action for Animals Humane Society, P.O. Box 814, Latrobe, PA 15650, or through their website.
Joe Napsha is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-836-5252 or jnapsha@tribweb.com.
Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)