Carl Wesley Carnes

1932 - 2020

Carl W. Carnes, a faithful servant of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, died peacefully the morning of Tuesday, May 13, 2020. He was 87 years old. The family plans to hold a Remembrance Service at Bethel U.M. Church, 41799 Stumptown Rd, Leesburg, VA, 20176, sometime in the future after the virus bans are lifted. Please visit www.colonialfuneralhome.com, sign Carl’s guestbook and share your special memories of him. You can leave your email address for updates and future events. Photos are available for viewing there as well.

Monday evening, May 18, 2020, there will be a viewing at Colonial Funeral Home, 201 Edwards Ferry Rd. NE, Leesburg, VA, from 5-7 pm.  Guests are asked to wait in their cars until signaled to enter the building. Under current restrictions, no more than 10 guests will be able to attend the viewing at a time. Masks (& gloves) are required. No one in the family will be offended if everyone continues to shelter in place and wait for the Remembrance Service - check back with Colonial’s website for date and time.

The family will hold a private graveside service with internment on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, at 2 pm, at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, 13266 Taylorstown Rd, Leesburg, VA, with “social distancing” in effect for those beyond the tent. 

Career-wise, it would be safe to say that Carl is unique, working as an accountant at E Systems (now Raytheon) in Falls Church, Virginia, from straight-out-of-college until retirement.  Carl also loves baseball, and played for the Richmond University Spiders while achieving his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting there. Carl was drafted by Uncle Sam into the U.S. Army after his first two years of college. He served his country for two years and returned to the University of Richmond after an honorable discharge to complete his degree.  During this time Carl befriended the young new pastor of Bethel Church in his hometown, and suddenly discovered the pastor had a beautiful younger sister named Carol.  A few dates and at least one apple pie later, Carl travelled to James Madison College on May 9th, 1958, while Carol was studying for her finals, and proposed. Carl & Carol were married August 9th, 1958. He played Men’s baseball in Loudoun County for many years, and even church softball. In addition, Carl took over tending his parents’ large garden in Stumptown, growing vegetables for family and friends. After his children left the nest, he began driving to Omaha, NE, every June to attend the NCAA College World Series (baseball) up through 2016.  His four children surprised him in Omaha in 2014, for the best Father’s Day week ever. Carl devoted his life to family and friends, always kind and compassionate in caring for others.  (see slide show photos below)

He is survived by his loving wife, Carol, and their 4 children:  Susan Dudek, Evelyn Boor, Leslie Lindsey & Wes Carnes.  Carl, or “Grandaddy,” shared a special relationship with each of his 13 grandchildren: Jessica, Amanda, Amelia, Josh, Ethan, Eslynn, Eli, Corey, Brant, Abigail, Sara, Reese and Freyja. (And a few “grand dogs as well!)

No flowers please!  If you would like to honor Carl’s life, the family requests that any donations be made in Carl’s name to Bethel United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 152, Lovettsville, VA, 20180. Funds will be designated to helping those in need, something Carl excelled at his entire life.