June 2, 1923 ~ January 31, 2018
William Joseph "Will" Carl Jr., 94, died on January 31, 2018, at home in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
He is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Charlotte Correy Carl; four children: William J. Carl III, Evelyn Thompson, Stephen Carl, and Debra Freeman, their families, his niece, Cathey Milburn and her family, ten grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Evelyn Carl and his sister Margaret Lindsay.
Dr. Carl was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 2, 1923. He was a World War II veteran, serving in Europe in the Battle of the Bulge for the United States Army.
He graduated from Central High School in Tulsa, earned a Bachelor's degree, a Master's degree and a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Tulsa, a Master of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago and a Doctor of Divinity from the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas.
Dr. Carl served churches in Broken Arrow, Hominy, Bartlesville and Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was the founding pastor of Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) in Bartlesville, serving there from 1955 until his retirement in 1990. Subsequently, he taught on the Faculty of Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa and served as interim and stated supply pastor for both John Calvin and Westminster Presbyterian churches in Tulsa.
He preached his last sermon of active ministry in October 2012 at the age of 89 when he finally retired completely! In his spare time Dr. Carl enjoyed spending time with his family, playing various instruments including the piano, guitar, violin and ukulele, and especially reading and studying since he was a lifelong learner. He also loved to write and is the author of Graying Gracefully: Preaching to Older Adults (Westminster John Knox Press, 1997).
He was a devoted man of God with a special relationship with Jesus Christ. He was a loving husband, father, uncle, grandfather, great grandfather, mentor to many pastors (including his own children) who began their ministry under his wise tutelage, and a friend who will be greatly missed by many around the country.
A service in celebration of Dr. Carl's life will be held at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 at the Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Bartlesville.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Dr. Carl's memory may be made to Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, 801 SE Washington Blvd, Bartlesville, OK 74006. Friends who wish may sign the online guest book and leave condolences at www.Stumpff.org