Stuart Scott "Stu" Carter

1952 - 2025

Stu Carter was born in Chicago on July 17, 1952, to Arthur and Joan Carter. He enlisted in the US Air Force after high school, serving from January 1971 to February 2001 including 16 years of overseas assignments. Lt Col Carter was a combat veteran of the Gulf War. After his USAF retirement Stu served as a civil servant for both the Air Force and the Army, finally retiring in 2015 as Director, Strategic Initiatives Group and Congressional Affairs for NETCOM at Fort Huachuca, marking 45 years of combined military and federal civil service. He Holds a BA in Computer Science from the University of California, Berkley and a MS Degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle University.
Stu was a cycling enthusiast and the 1992 US National Military Time Trial Champion. He was the founder of the Air Force Cycling Team in 1995 and started VeloVets Sierra Vista in 2016 to help fellow disabled veterans become physically active in bicycling.
Engaged and well known and regarded in the community since his settling in Sierra Vista in 2006, Stu was active on the Board of the Warrior Healing Center. He was a 2018 inductee to the AZ Veterans Hall of Fame and was awarded the 2024 AZ CD6 Veteran Servant Leader Award from Congressman Juan Ciscomani.
Stu tragically passed away on November 5 from cardiac arrest while on a bike ride with his beloved fellow VeloVets. He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Anne Carter and daughter Stacey Carter to whom he was an adoring and devoted father. He leaves behind his cherished mini-Schnauzers Misty and Luna and countless friends and fellow cyclists who loved and admired him.
A funeral service will be held at the First Church of the Nazarene, 1215 El Camino Real Sierra Vista on Monday, November 17 at 10:00AM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Stu's memory to VeloVets Sierra Vista through the website at velovetssierravistaaz.org or the VeloVets Sierra Vista Facebook page.