William Frederick Carter

William Frederick Carter July 14, 1941 - July 19, 2023 (age 82) William Frederick (Fred) Carter, 82, of Smyrna, Delaware, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Fred was born on July 14, 1941, in New Bern, North Carolina. Fred met the love of his life Huldy Gray Norris and they wed in 1962. After marriage, he and his wife moved to Delaware where together they raised their family. Before his retirement in 2007, Fred worked as a tugboat Captain for Express Marines, Inc. He began his career in the Merchant Marines as a young teenage boy working on the boatyard taking every opportunity to learn and work his way up through hard work and certifications. Fred was sought out during the course of his career by various boating companies due to his knowledge, commitment, and leadership skills. Fred obtained a Master of Towing Oceans License and took many ongoing courses with the Marine Safety Consultants Tidewater School of Navigation, Inc. and others during his career. Fred was an advocate for lifelong learning and education, which he preached constantly to his children. Fred enjoyed watching television, history, spending time with his family, and researching family history through Ancestry.com. Most of all he was a loving son, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother and uncle. He will be greatly missed and never forgotten. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Huldy Gray (Norris) Carter, and five children Wanda Spiering and her husband Charles of Dover, Delaware, James Carter of Dover, Delaware, Dr. Ada Lee Puzzo and her husband Mark of Bowers Beach, Delaware, Dr. Mary Birney and her husband Kevin of Magnolia, Delaware, and Juanita Shaw and her husband Tommy of Gulf Breeze, Florida and his cherished grandchildren, Rose Williams, Marcia Dowell, Cheri Coughlin, Kristen Evans, Rodney Field, Jackie Twitchell, Adam Twitchell, Brandy Smith, Ross Smith, Jackson Smith, Timothy Ryan, Tommy Shaw, and Tyler Shaw, and adored great grandchildren, Alyssa Chandler, Kaylee Williams, Elijah Williams, Jin McGuire, Carter Dowell, Gina Dowell, Hanna Evans, Thomas Evans, Jaylynn Webb, Oliviah Cartwright, Aubree Ritter, Elizabeth Hill, Aaliyah Ryan, Tyler Shaw, Jr., Valkyrie Ryan, Sailor Shaw, and great great grandchildren RJ May and Kaidyn May, and a dear sister, Mary Cuthrell of Dobson, North Carolina and many nieces and nephews and extended family. A private celebration of life will be held for the family on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Delaware Veterans Trust Fund https://delawareveteranstrustfund.com/donate.