Dates
Rodney Donald "Rod" Carter, U.S. Marine Corps, retired, 64, of San Angelo, reported for his final call of duty on Monday, May 5, 2014, in San Angelo, Texas. The family will receive friends for visitation from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, May 9, 2014, at Johnson's Funeral Home. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 10, 2014, at Glen Meadows Baptist Church with the Rev. Mack Roller officiating. Rod was born June 22, 1949, in Comfrey, Minnesota, to Donald and Arlene (Amsden) Carter. He grew up in Comfrey, Minnesota, and after graduating from high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps. Rod served his country honorably in the United States Marine Corps for 22 years achieving the rank of chief warrant officer 3 before retirement. He traveled to more than 50 countries and served two tours during Vietnam. After retirement from the USMC, he worked a defense contractor. He married Patty Duratny on May 20, 1989, and they shared 24 wonderful years together. Rod was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather who devoted his life to his country and family. He was very proud of his service as a Marine and loved to tell stories relating everything to the Marine Corps. Rod loved entertaining friends, cooking barbeque and playing pool. His favorite hobbies were riding his Harley Davidson motorcycles, especially "Sweet Cheeks", his favorite bike, cutting and selling firewood, building barbeque grills and generally making things in his shop for people. He loved staying busy, so he would take on and master projects of any kind. Rod was an amazing man and we will carry him in our hearts forever. He was preceded in death by his father, Donald Carter; his son, Ty Carter; and his brother-in-law, Paul Duratny. Rod is survived by his loving family: wife Patty Carter of San Angelo; his children, Zac Carter and Emily Carter, both of San Angelo; his grandson, Bentley Rian Charlot of California; his mother, Arlene Carter of Comfrey, Minnesota; his sister, Diane Olson and her husband, Marley, of Comfrey, Minnesota; and an uncle and several aunts, nieces, nephews and numerous friends who Rod considered family. Pallbearers for the service will be Scott Olson, Danny Duke, Conrad Lopez, Ray Meachum, King Drake, Chad Walden, Jeff Temples and Bruce Maddox. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Gentiva Hospice in San Angelo; or the Wounded Warrior Project. The family would like to extend their sincerest thanks and appreciation to Dustin Merriman of Gentiva Hospice for his wonderful care and all of their friends for all the love and support given to Rod during his illness. "Semper Fi" Family and friends may sign an online register book at johnsons-funeralhome.com.