JOHN CECIL COLTER

1926 - 2016

JOHN CECIL COLTER JULY 28, 1926 - November 18, 2016 John Cecil Colter, 90, most recently living at Franklin Manor Memory Care Facility in Youngsville, NC, has left his earthly body and moved on to be with his parents and brothers. He is survived by his wife Anne Rogers Colter of Raleigh, NC. Born July 28, 1926 in Savoy, Montana to George James Colter and Cecil May Gerst who operated a cattle ranch during the 1920s to 30s. John attended a one room schoolhouse. His parents died early and his older brother George Jr. (20 at the time) took over as his guardian when John was only 12 and his younger brother Robert was 9. George Jr. sold the ranch and the brothers went to Pasadena, California to live with an uncle. George Jr. worked hard and soon bought them a house and car of their own. John pitched in at a local grocery store while attending school. The three brothers remained close their whole lives. John is survived by George Jr.'s wife Madelene Colter of Springfield, VA (and nieces Martha Colter Dennis and husband Shad of Lambertville, NJ and Ellen Colter Wormald and husband Charles of Springfield, VA). Also, his brother Robert's wife Phyllis Colter of Laguna Niguel, CA (and nephew Robert Wolfe Colter and wife Marti of Torrance, CA and niece Kathleen Cecil Colter of Laguna Niguel, CA). John was drafted into military service after high school and chose the Navy and trained to be a medic. Later he was chosen to be in the Naval ROTC which lasted until the end of WWII. John briefly worked for the United Nations Relief Organization, which was shipping horses to Europe to replace those killed during the war. After this respite he went to UCLA and received a BS in Chemistry, Class of 1949. John worked with a few different companies as a chemical engineer before starting work with General Electric in Santa Clara, California in 1965. John has two sons from a former marriage, Jason Colter (San Jose, CA) and John Colter, Jr. (and wife Denise, Folsum, CA). John has volunteered all of his adult life. He volunteered at the Santa Clara California Public library and in Santa Clara politics. John met Anne Rogers Bickel in San Jose, California and it was not long before they were married in April 1974. John acquired three stepchildren out of this marriage, Debbie Bickel of Cary, NC; Pattie Bickel Lopez (husband Luis) of Raleigh NC; and Thomas Bickel of Decatur, GA. Soon after this marriage John transferred with General Electric to Wilmington, NC. Anne and John quickly became very active members of the community participating in many activities over the 40 years they lived in Wilmington. In Wilmington, NC, John was active in the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Friends of the Public Library, helping to establish WHQR and planning for the future of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation which he loved. He volunteered at the Senior Center. He worked on campaigns for candidates he supported. They were also very involved in social activities with their church, and neighborhood friends. In 2011 John and Anne sold their house in Pine Valley and moved into Holly Tree Independent Living in Wilmington, then later moved up to Raleigh to the Gardens at Wakefield to be closer to Pattie and Debbie. They left a piece of their hearts in Wilmington. The past three years John has been at the Franklin Manor Memory Care Facility in Youngsville, NC on the edge of Raleigh. They have provided excellent care and we thank them very much for this along with Transitions Hospice Program of Wake County who has also provided excellent care for John his last year along with support to the family. A Memorial for John as a celebration of his life well lived will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Wilmington, NC (4313 Lake Ave.) on December 10, 2016 at 3:00 in the afternoon followed by a reception.