Carl M. Shrader

SHRADER CARL M. SHRADER September 21, 1928 - December 11, 2009 Carl M. Shrader was born in Lafayette, Christian County, KY September 21, 1928. He was the second son of Raymond & Larue Shrader''s five children. Carl joined the US Air Force shortly after high school to train as a photo-mechanical professional, just prior to the outbreak of the Korean War. It was during his military service that he met Mary Lunsford of Minden, LA, with whom he eventually eloped to begin a 58 year marriage on April 4, 1951. Upon his honorable discharge, Carl and Mary moved to Washington, DC, where he landed a position in the photo-mechanical laboratory at the National Geographic Society''s magazine. During his 37 years with the Geographic, he rose through the ranks to become Chief of the photo-mechanical labs, Director of photographic production and printing, and ultimately Assistant Vice President and an officer in the Society. Given his professional life, Carl''s interests were as diverse and exciting as one could possibly imagine. He was the featured in the 1965 book, Scientists Who Work With Cameras, very early in his career. He earned several "Who''s Who" citations. Following his interest in his family lineage, he became pres- ident of the Mid-Atlantic Germanic Society, a genealogical organization. His fascination with history was played out through his intense interest in coin collecting; he ultimately became president of the Maryland Numismatic Society and served as host chairman for their national coin collectors'' convention one year. In an interesting recognition of his roots and accomplishments, he was commissioned by the governor of his home state as a Kentucky Colonel. Carl was always deeply involved in the United Methodist Church. He served as Sunday School Superintendent, Building Committee Chair, and Lay Leader. After retirement, Carl & Mary moved to Charlotte in 2004 to be nearer to their grandchildren. Carl M. Shrader leaves behind a loving and devoted wife, Mary; two sons, Michael and Kenneth and their wives Alice and Donna; five wonderful grand children and a grand-daughter-in-law, and a host of friends near and far. A private memorial service for the family was held for Carl Shrader on December 15 at Weddington United Methodist Church in Weddington, N.C.