Harold 'Gene' Carlton

Harold E.Gene Carlton, 82, of Danville, left this world peacefully at 10:47pm on May 20, 2009 after a long battle with Parkinsons disease. He was at home listening to music while surrounded by his family. His loving wife, Betty, sang many of their old favorite songs to him. He was born April 13, 1927, in Louisiana, Mo., the son of Arthur B. Carlton and Myrtle (Harrison) Carlton. He graduated Oakwood High School, enlisting in the United States Navy on March 17, 1945. He was stationed on one of the first aircraft carriers, the USS Point Cruz patrolling the Pacific Ocean. He was honorably discharged from active duty on August 20, 1946 holding the rank of Seaman First Class. He returned to the states and married Betty Emmann Gutterridge on October 19, 1947, who survives. Family was very important to him, loving to be surrounded by his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his children Donna J. Carlton-Vish (Don), Diane M. Carlton, Dean E. (Angela) Carlton, and Dale A. (Connie) Carlton, all of Danville, 13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He came from a large family and is survived by four sisters, Kathryn Patricia Patsy Pradke and Rosemarie Carlton Darby of Danville, Peggy (Robert) Nippe and Ruby Sissy Collins of Normal, and one brother James Yogi Carlton, of Olivet, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Arthur Buster Carlton, John T. Tommy Carlton, and Raymond Buddy Carlton. He was a community-oriented person always willing to help those with needs. He was a member of Catlin Masonic Lodge #285 for over 50 years and later joined the Gao Grotto. He enjoyed the camaraderie at the Grotto and for many years was in charge of using his heavy equipment to set or remove the docks. He had been a member of the Danville Country Club and the Danville Boat Club. He served on the Gordon Cemetery and Kickapoo Volunteer Fire Department boards holding many offices on each. He was instrumental in creating the Allied Builders Association in the Danville area. This group of contractors worked together to improve construction practices in Vermilion County. Through his leadership with this group he was given the honor to establish a permanent Allied Builders Scholarship to incoming DACC students studying construction. He was a member of the Ironworkers Local 380 for seventeen years working in the field, as well as attending business school. He combined the two skills to start C&V Erectors, a steel fabrication and erection company. This business grew and thrived in the Danville community, building and renovating some of our larger industries and municipalities such as GM, Danville Sanitary, The City of Danville, Teepak, GE, CCL , Quaker Oats, Hyster, Bohn Heatcraft, and many more . He expanded the business to general contracting in 1995 renaming the business C&V Construction. C&V was named Small Business of the Year by Vermilion Advantage in the 1990s. Being interested in training good workers in his skill, he taught some classes at Votec. He was the president and owner of C&V for 39 years continuing his involvement as Chairman of the Board after retirement in November of 2000. He served on many community committees, such as the Chamber of Commerce and Vermilion Advantage. His business expertise, no-nonsense honest approach and leadership qualities gave him opportunities to make a difference in Danville, his community. He was involved with the Chamber to help bring new businesses to Danville in the 1980s. Fellow business associates often stated he was the most honest and fair businessman they knew and that his word could be fully trusted with a hand shake. Gene loved to travel as well. He and Betty spent some of the winter months in Florida staying in St. Augustine and Bonita Springs as well as visiting friends and family. They also had the wonderful opportunity to visit all 50 states and several European countries. He will be greatly missed by his family and large circle of friends and business associates. He approached both work and play with all of his energy. He loved cooking out and providing food for large groups of people. He often grilled for his family and friends. He built large cookers for his grilling and created his own family recipe for barbeque sauce. He was baptized as a Christian at Lone Oak Church of Christ. He served as the song leader and a deacon in the early 1950s. He later transferred his membership to Old Union Church of Christ which became Crossroads Christian Church. He served as a deacon, provided volunteer construction work, and was very active with his Sunday School class at Old Union for many years. Visitation will be Friday, May 22 from 4pm to 8pm, Masonic Rites at 7:30pm and Saturday, May 23 from 9am-10am followed by a celebration of the life of Gene Carlton at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center with Miles Clark officiating. Graveside rites will be held at Sunset Memorial Park, Danville. Gene was always ready to lend a helping hand to those around him. He never did it for recognition; the needs were just met. Continuing in that custom, memorials or donations may be made in the name of Gene Carlton to Crossroads Christian Church, 3613 N. Vermilion Street, Danville, IL 61834, Rileys Childrens Hospital, 1430 E. Fairchild Ste 4E, Danville, IL 61832, or Danville AMBUCs, P.O. Box 266, Danville, IL 61834-0266.