Dwight August Carlson

Dwight August Carlson Dwight August Carlson was born in Pratt, Kansas on March 12, 1932 to George and Lissa Carlson. He went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sunday, June 16, 2013 at the age of 81. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 AM August 10, 2013 at Salser and Dillard Funeral Chapel in Visalia, California. Dwight's family moved from Kansas to a farm near Kingsburg, California in 1936. The family later moved to a farm East of Dinuba. He attended Sultana Elementary School and then Washington Jr. High School in Dinuba. While attending Dinuba High School, Dwight was active in student government, student body plays, and athletics. He was also Boy's State Representative, Student Body President and Salutatorian of his 1950 graduating class. An Alumni Scholarship took him to the University of California, Berkeley where he competed in track and football. The three most significant events during his undergraduate years were his confession of Jesus Christ as his Savior, marrying Virginia Margaret Isaak of Reedley on August 8, 1953, and the birth of their daughter, Nori Jo, on March 17, 1955. Dwight worked summers as a trail crewman, backwoods Ranger and fire fighter at the High Sierra Ranger Station of the United States Forest Service above Huntington Lake. After graduating with honors in economics, Dwight entered the United States Air Force as a Second Lieutenant. He served two years at Castle Air Force Base as Personal Affairs and Casualty Officer. He was promoted to Captain on graduation from U.C. Berkeley Boalt School of Law as a Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) in May, 1960. In November, 1960, he became an associate of Shepard & Shepard of Selma, California. The 1960s were busy years for Dwight and Virginia as they applied for adoption and welcomed Ralph (1961), Daniel (1962), and Heidi (1965) into their family. Their youngest, Michael, was a joyful surprise when he was born on September 9, 1969, shortly after the landing of the first man on the moon. In 1964, Dwight opened his law practice in Dinuba, California and maintained that practice until 1989. During this time he served as President of the Tulare County Bar Association and was elected to the Dinuba Elementary School Board and joined the Dinuba Kiwanis Club. He served as Lt. Governor of Division 18 of the California-Nevada-Hawaii District of Kiwanis International in 1974-1975. He maintained 47 years of perfect attendance in Kiwanis despite several moves over the next years. A near death experience in November of 1983 led Dwight to heed the call to enter full-time Christian ministry. He attended the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary in Fresno in 1987 and graduated as an ordained minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1990. Over the next twelve years he served numerous congregations ranging from Tulare to Oakdale, California. In 2005, Dwight became the founding pastor of a new congregation, Disciples of Christ - Visalia. He remained in that position until 2007. Dwight was preceded into the glorious presence of God and Jesus Christ by his daughter Heidi Jeanette Joelson. He is survived by his wife, Virginia, of nearly 60 years, their daughter Nori Naylor and her husband Mike of Dinuba, their sons Ralph and Daniel of Visalia, and their son Rev. Michael and his wife Rev. Molly Carlson of Modesto, California. Dwight is also survived by his siblings: Glenn Carlson, Dorothy Ulrich, Betty McCarty, Rowena Netzley, as well as nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Remembrances: Christian Church in Northern California and Nevada (payable to CCNC-N), 9260 Alcosta Blvd, Bldg. C-18, San Ramon, California 94583-4143 (MEMO: New Church Movement) or Disciples of Christ - Visalia, PO BOX 7808, VISALIA, CA 93290-7808.