Carl Stephen Milsted Jr.

Carl S. Milsted Jr. of Kenly, North Carolina passed away on February 25th, 2026. He was 62 years old–just a day shy of his 63rd birthday. A physicist by training, a political thinker at heart, and a kind soul by nature, Carl lived a life defined by intellectual curiosity, principled conviction, Christian faith, and a genuine concern for the world around him.

Carl spent his youth in Swansboro, North Carolina and Warsaw, Virginia, where he developed an early love of learning and ideas. Carl was an avid reader and was particularly influenced by the cultural thought experiments found in great works of science fiction. That fascination with science and culture became a major theme of Carl's life, one he embraced fully.

He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Richmond, where his love of science and science fiction earned him the affectionate fraternity nickname 'Zorch.' He later received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Texas at Dallas, completing a dissertation in the field of theoretical nonlinear optics. He would joke that he'd landed on the topic after realizing he probably wasn't going to invent a starship warp drive. In his professional life, Carl worked on many technically demanding problems in the defense and aerospace sectors, including software development for the early GPS satellite system.

But Carl's restless mind could not be contained by any single discipline. He was also a voracious reader of philosophy, history, economics, theology, and political theory. He believed deeply in the value of engaging with those who disagreed with him, and he spent decades refining his political thinking through debate, writing, and organizing. He channeled his political conviction into action. He was an active member and organizer within the Libertarian Party for many years, eventually founding the Libertarian Reform Caucus. His political views continued to evolve throughout his life, and he relished sharing his original ideas with the world through his many published essays.

After spending some time steeping in the independent-thinking culture of Asheville, North Carolina, he met his wife, Suelinda. The pair started their family there before moving to Kenly, where they raised their beloved daughter, Lorien, and lived a life centered on their shared Christian faith. Spiritual life was inseparable from intellectual life for Carl, and he shared both freely with his family, who were at the center of it all.

For all his intellectual intensity, those who knew Carl best remember his kindness, generosity of spirit, and quirky sense of humor (think of an alchemy between Adam West-era Batman, Austin Powers, and Captain Kirk). Carl treated every conversation–whether about quantum mechanics, the nature of justice, or the fashion merits of tie-dye–as an opportunity for human connection. The world was endlessly interesting to Carl, and he was endlessly interesting in return.

Carl is survived by his wife, Suelinda Milsted; daughter, Lorien Milsted; mother, Evelyn Overton; stepmother, Mary Ann Milsted; parents-in-law, Horst and Sue Obermeit; aunt, Carrie Freshwater; sister, Catherine Hoang and her husband, Minh; sister, Susanna Milsted; brother, Edgar Milsted and his wife, Paula; sister, Margaret Buglisi and her husband, Joe; stepsister, Shannon Stilla and her husband, Peter; brothers-in-law, Brandt and Morgen Obermeit; twelve nieces and nephews; two great-nephews; and several beloved cousins.