William Baker Carstarphen

1945 - 2025

William Baker Carstarphen

November 8, 1945 - January 31, 2025

Tarboro, North Carolina - William Baker Carstarphen, affectionately known as Bill and later Ooh Ooh, created laughter, joy and fun in every room he entered.

Born on November 8th, 1945 in Tarboro, he was the youngest of two sons to Joseph Martin and Marian Grey Carstarphen.

Bill attended Virginia Episcopal School and Tarboro High School. After graduation, he went to the University of Georgia where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and graduated from Methodist University with a degree in Economics.

He married Myrtle "Cookie" Ward Havens in 1970 and they had three beautiful daughters, Susan Grey, Anna Fuller and Frances Baker. He later married Mattie Simmons in 2002 where he became a beloved stepfather to Inie and Burton. Besides being a worshipped husband and father, he was also a treasured grandfather to eight grandchildren.

An avid fisherman, gun enthusiast and golfer, he competed in many Hatteras Marlin Club Fishing Tournaments and local golf charity tournaments supporting education and the community in which he lived and loved. Bill's career began in the banking business with Planter's Bank before moving on to W.S. Clark and Sons and eventually, finding his way to Parkway Agriculture acting as its Treasurer for the last 24 years.

Bill's kindness, witty sense of humor and his loyalty to his friends made him a gift and a welcome addition to any and every setting.

A lifelong member of Calvary Episcopal Church, he lived his convictions of a loving, just and merciful God.

Preceded in death by his parents, his first wife and his elder brother Joseph "Bip" Carstarphen, he leaves behind a loving wife, three daughters, two stepdaughters, four sons-in-law: Marc Seate; Brent Howard, Clark Jenkins and Stephen Ribustello; and eight grandchildren: Peyton & Will Seate; Fuller and Joseph Howard; Ford and Marian Grey Jenkins; and Cynthia and Stephen Ribustello III. It would be remiss not to mention his two precious dogs Lucy and Sandy, who devotedly laid in bed by his side for his last days on Earth.

The funeral will be held Saturday, February 8th at 11 a.m. at Calvary Episcopal Church, and the family will receive guests in Clark Hall immediately after.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Saving Grace: Animals for Adoption in Wake Forest or Calvary Episcopal Church in Tarboro.

There will be a visitation on Friday, February 7th at the home of Clark and Mary Jane Jenkins from 5 to 7 p.m. at One Norfleet Court.

"I sing a song of the saints of God, patient and brave and true, who toiled and fought and lived and died for the Lord they loved and knew."

Lesbia Scott.