William Robert Carter

William “Bill” Robert Carter, of Milford, DE., passed away July 3, 2025, at his home.
 
William was born January 27, 1955, in Washington, D.C. to the late Harry H. Carter and Mary Janet Carter. He was a 1973 graduate at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and a 1979 graduate of Towson University where he earned a BS degree in General Studies. From a young age, William knew that he wanted to fly airplanes. As a college student, he worked as a banner tow pilot in Ocean City, MD., and later as an Air Traffic Controller at the Federal Aviation Administration before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force.

William served in the U.S. Air Force for 23 years from 1981 to 2004, where he achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. As a KC-135 and C-5 pilot, he contributed to major campaigns during Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield and Operation Enduring Freedom. He was awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with one Bronze Star, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one Oak Leaf Cluster, among others.

During and after his military service, William was an experienced commercial airline pilot, flying for Trans World Airlines (TWA) for many years, and later American Eagle Airlines, NetJets, and American Airlines. In total, William logged over 11,790 hours of flight time during his career, a true testament to his lifelong passion.

In his retirement, William was an active hobbyist, spending his time cooking, pet sitting, bird watching, camping, and fishing with friends and family. He was a talented painter and photographer, often focusing on his favorite subjects: dogs, boats, and airplanes.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Michael Carter.
 
He leaves behind his son, Daniel Carter of Baltimore, MD., and his daughter, Emily Carter of Red Bank, NJ., two brothers, three sisters, and many beloved nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews.
 
William will be laid to rest at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Millsboro, DE., in Sussex County. Services will be announced at a later date.

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