Walter Carlton

RINGGOLD Walter Carl Carlton, 77, of Ringgold and Arcadia, Fla., passed away Tuesday, May 29, 2012.He was born in Flat Rock, Ala., to the late William Walter and Ruby Elizabeth Akins Carlton. He served his country in the U. S. Navy and retired after 30 years of service. After retiring from the U.S. Navy he was employed by Pro-Fab Machine Shop in Rossville.He was a musician who taught himself to play the guitar, banjo, mandolin and bass. His enthusiasm for singing and playing enabled him to participate in bluegrass groups of all kinds. He played in several bands, notably "Possum Hollow Grass" and "Wagon Tracks." He enjoyed bluegrass jams both in Florida and Georgia.He had talented hands for building, He constructed a cottage at his Ringgold residence and a camp house at the Arcadia residence. He collected miniature tractors, as well as full size tractors.Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Janie Revels Carlton; daughter, Wanda Carlton Wills; brothers, James A. Carlton and Charles S. Carlton.He is survived by his wife Martha Baum Carlton, of Ringgold, Ga., and Arcadia, Fla., their children, Susan Elizabeth Carlton Horton and Donald, of Rossville, Matthew and Rumiko Sikes, of Potomac, Md.; brother and sister-in-law, Jimmy and Lois Carlton, of Chickamauga, Ga.; sisters and brothers-in-law, Betty and Earl Jackson, of LaFayette, Ga., Patsy and Donnie Sprayberry, of Chickamauga; grandchildren: Chelsea and Kennedy Horton, Julian and Mizuki Sikes; several nieces and nephews.The family will receive friends from 6-9 p.m. today and Saturday afternoon prior to the service.Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 2, 2012, in the chapel with Jimmy Spurling, Dale Sprayberry and Doug Carlton officiating.Burial will follow at Lakewood Memory Gardens, South, Rossville. Flowers will be accepted.The family would be pleased for memorial donations to be made to the American Cancer Society at 6221 Shallowford Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421.Online register book at www.wilsonfuneralhome.com.Arrangements by Wilson Funeral Homes, Chickamauga Chapel.