Col (Ret) Marvin Ernest Carver

In 1942, he served as radio operator aboard a troop transport ship where he dodged the German subs until he signed up for pilot’s school.
Graduating from flying school and B-24 transition in 1943, he was assigned to the Harlingen, Texas gunnery school. Lt. Carver flew gunners in the B-24, towed targets in the AT-6, flew gun camera missions in the P-39 and instructed in the B-24 and the AT-6. He was training for combat in the B-29 at the end of World War II.
He then landed a job with the famous 53rd “Hurricane Hunter’s” Weather Recon
Squadron, where he acquired valuable weather experience halfway around the world. In 1949, he flew 124 missions on the historic Berlin Airlift. He joined the Strategic Air Command in 1950.
During fifteen years in SAC, he was a B-36 instructor/evaluator for six years. He
formed, and was Chief of the 11th Wing Standardization Division at Carswell AFB, TX. At Altus AFB, OK, he served as B-52 AC, B-52 Squadron Operations Officer, B-52 Squadron Commander, Wing Director of Safety and KC-135 Squadron Commander.
In 1966, Marvin completed Air War College and was assigned to the National Military Command Center AT THE PENTAGON. He was Chief of the Flight Test Division for the Systems Command, Rome AFB, New York from 1967 until HIS RETIREMENT IN1970.
The highlights of his military career include duty with the 2nd Armored Division and his flying experience. He was among the most experienced four-or-more engine and instrument pilots.
He flew the B-17, B-24, B-29, B-36, B-52, KC-135, C-135, C-54, P-39 and others. He flew in weather from the tropical storms of Panama to the hurricanes of the Atlantic and Pacific, and through blizzards to the North Pole and Europe. He completed approximately10,000 accident-free flying hours.
After USAF retirement, he was a building contractor.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Flora Carver; sisters, Louise Hall, Carrie Maddrey, Ruth Marshall, Gladys Lovette and Catherine Jeffries; brothers, Ervin Carver, Thomas Carver and Vernon Carver.
He is survived by his daughter, Jean Carver Kelley of Burlington; an adopted son, Ricky Carver of Bayboro and a step-daughter, Joyce Slinger of Angier; sisters, Mozelle Vickers of Raleigh and Elizabeth Hargrove of Cary; granddaughter, Carol Jarman; three great-grandchildren, Bryan Carver, Eric Carver and Barry Renwick; two great-grandchildren, Zachory Higgins and Mackenzie Higgins.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 1, 2016 at 2 p.m. at Hudson Funeral Chapel. Dr. Gerald Goodwin will officiate. Interment with Military Honors will be in the Lowes Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends on Monday from 1 to 2 p.m., prior to the service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wounded Warriors, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.