Chalmers J. CARTNER

NEWPORT NEWS - Chalmers Joseph 'Joe' Cartner, 85, died peacefully Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010 at his home following a brief illness.
He leaves his daughter, Annette Cartner Pleasants and her husband, Jeffrey R. Pleasants, and granddaughter Sarah Elizabeth Harwood Pleasants of Virginia Beach; nephew, John A. C. Cartner and his wife, Mary Charles Cartner of Alexandria; niece, Babe Faw and her husband, Carl of North Carolina; nephews, Doyle Walsh and his wife of North Carolina, and Charles Walsh of Atlanta; brother-in-law, Thomas J. Massey and his wife, Dorothy; sister-in-law, Jacqueline Massey Schlupp and her husband, Ronald; nephew, Ken Bradley and his wife, Kathy; many other nieces and nephews in the Philadelphia area, as well as close friends far and wide. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 54 years, Anna Marie Massey 'Nan' Cartner of Philadelphia; his sisters, Johnsie Walsh, Evelyn Cartner; his brother, John Cartner of North Carolina; and his niece, Linda B. C. Miller, M.D. of Blount's Creek, N.C.; Nan's sisters, Rita Dignam, Peggy McElderry, and Rose Jalicke.
Born on Oct. 3, 1924, in Wilkes County, N.C., the son of Vessey Vickers and John A. Cartner, he left home at the age of 16, to join the Civilian Conservation Corps. He worked fighting forest fires in California and building roads in North Carolina. He also worked in Alaska building roads and infrastructure. He joined the U.S. Navy, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. During World War II, he served on the USS Roche (DE197), escorting supply ships across the North Atlantic.
After World War II, Mr. Cartner left the Navy and worked as a skilled mechanic. Mr. Cartner then joined the U.S. Air Force in 1948, and reached the grade of Staff Sergeant before retiring in 1964, after 20 years of combined service. Mr. Cartner joined the Civil Service and retired a second time in 1984. Mr. Cartner's career took him to all parts of the U.S. and the world including France, North Africa and Greenland. After retiring, Mr. Cartner spent many mornings and afternoons, meeting with close friends at a local McDonalds, for a cup of coffee. For 30 years, the J. Clyde Morris McDonald's Coffee Club discussed the local and national issues of the day and resolved many of them.
Mr. Cartner was a generous man always willing to offer his time and help to anyone. He was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and friend. The world is a better place because of Joe.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, for their Food Pantry Ministry, 100 Harpersville Road, Newport News, VA 23601.
Visitation will be held at 9 a.m. with Mass following at 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 27, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, located at 100 Harpersville Road, Newport News.
Please leave condolences at www.wjsmithandsonfh.com.
Arrangements by W. J. Smith & Son Funeral Home. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.