William Jack “Bill” Carlson, age 86, died on Feb. 1, 2019, at his home in Florence, SC.
Memorial services will be held at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 5 at the Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home Chapel. Mr. Carlson will be buried in Florence, SC, at the National Cemetery. He was born in Denver, Colorado, the son of the late F. S. and Viola J. Fowler. He was educated in schools in Nebraska and Texas, and had an Associate Degree in Nuclear Engineering Technology from Florence-Darlington Tech.
Bill was a retired Air Force MSgt and a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars. He served in the United States Air Force as an aircraft mechanic and he worked and flew on many types of aircrafts, he was a B-52 gunner, and a C-141 flight engineer. His decorations include, the Purple Heart, Senior Aircrew Members Badge, the Combat Crew Members Badge, Air Medals, and the Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster. He had numerous other medals, Letters of Appreciation, and Certificates of Commendation.
After retiring from the Air Force, he was employed from 1976 until his retirement in 1995, as a chemistry technician by CP&L at the H. B. Robinson Nuclear Plant in Hartsville, SC.
Bill was a certified reading instructor and worked with the Low Country Literacy Volunteers for a time. He was a member of the Air Force Association, the National Rifle Association, the Air Force Gunners Association, and was the Adjutant of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Low Country Chapter 1948. He was a Red Cross volunteer at the Naval Hospital in Beaufort, SC for many years. He was at one time a volunteer fireman with the Palmetto Fire Dept. in Darlington County, SC.
Bill was not a church goer, but he loved the Lord.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Angie Reeves Carlson; a son, William J. Carlson, II (Peggy); grandson, William Reeves Carlson (Julia); and great-grandchildren Ana and Olivia Carlson.
Please sign the tribute wall for the family at www.stoudenmiredowling.com.
