William A. Carleton Nov. 10, 1917 - Jan. 25, 2015 NOTRE DAME - William Arthur Carleton, 97, of South Bend, Indiana, passed away peacefully at home on January 25, 2015. Bill was born November 10, 1917 on a farm near Mindoro, Wisconsin to Guy Arthur Carleton and Isabelle Victoria Knudson Carleton. Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Geyer Carleton, their beloved son, Mark G. Carleton and parents, Guy and Isabelle Carleton. He is survived by his sons, William A. Carleton, Jr. (Gail) and Eric A. Carleton (Kathleen); his grandchildren, Loran Carleton Parker (Matthew), Andrew G. Carleton, Sarah A. Carleton, Peter E. Carleton (Jamie) and Elizabeth C. Carleton; and his great-grandchildren, Caitlyn R. and Rhys E. Parker. Bill grew up in Aberdeen, South Dakota, where he attended school, including three years at Northern State University. In 1941, he graduated from Iowa State University a Tau Beta Pi with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. That same year, Bill joined the Milwaukee Railroad Engineering Department in Marion, Iowa. Following Pearl Harbor, he enlisted as an Aviation Cadet with the Army Air Corps. He received his commission in September of the next year and was assigned as an engineering officer with the newly formed 100th Bomb Group of B-17s at Boise, Idaho. In April 1943, the 100th Bomb Group moved to Station 139 at Thorpe Abbotts, England and shortly thereafter went on combat status. Engineering officers did not fly on combat missions, but were responsible for the preparation, repair and maintenance of the seventy B-17 airplanes on 306 combat missions conducted by the group. He later was active in the 100th Bomb Group Foundation and served as president for five years. In October 1945, Bill was discharged from the Army as a Major and accepted the position of Sales Engineer with the Armco Steel Corporation of Middletown, Ohio. In 1948, he was transferred to South Bend, Indiana, where he met Mary Geyer. They fell in love and were married March 19, 1949. Bill continued his career with Armco and retired in December 1982, as an Assistant to the President of the Metal Products Division. Bill was active in civic life both before and after his retirement. In South Bend, he was a strong supporter of the Stanley Clark School and served on its board for nine years. He served on the Board of Memorial Hospital and was Chairman for four years, later being named Chairman Emeritus for life. He served on the board of Directors of the Tower Federal Bank and was the Chairman from 1982-1987. Bill was also active in the Junto Goose and Duck Club, a group that is dedicated to the preservation of wildlife, and served as its president for a number of years. A lifelong Presbyterian, Bill was active in the governance of First Presbyterian Church of South Bend and served as President of the Board of Trustees for three years. Bill enjoyed entertaining friends and family with humorous stories about growing up in South Dakota, he cherished his time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren and he relished relaxing at his winter home in Naples, Florida. He was an avid chronicler and collector. He published several narratives of his time in England during the war and documented family genealogy back into the 11th century. The family fondly remembers Dad as a kind and wise man. They would like to thank his caregivers, Chrissy, Sybena, and all the Senior One Care staff for their loving care and assistance during Bill's illness. Per his wishes there will be a private burial service at North Liberty's Eastlawn cemetery. A Memorial Service will be held at Andre Place in Holy Cross Village, Notre Dame, Indiana on January 31, 2015 at noon. Rev. Adelia Kelso of the First Presbyterian Church, South Bend, will preside. The family will receive guests at 11 a.m. and a reception will be held after the service. Condolences may be sent to the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home, 521 N. William St., South Bend, IN 46616 or www.Welsheimer.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Memorial Health Foundation, 615 N Michigan Street, South Bend, IN 46601-1033; The Stanley Clark School, 3123 Miami Street, South Bend, Indiana 46614; or the First Presbyterian Church, 333 W. Colfax Ave., South Bend, IN 46601