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Obituary for Joshua D. R. Carter
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Josh Carter, 22, of Gold Beach, died as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident on Hwy. 38 near Scottsburg, OR, on Saturday, April 12, 2014.
Josh was born August 10, 1991, in Sacramento, CA to Gary and Laura (Walker) Carter. He grew up in Gold Beach, and graduated from Gold Beach High School in 2009. While there, he was active in various sports. He was also a very active part of the high school band, playing the trombone. Never one to sit still, Josh loved being in the outdoors. Whether he was hiking, fishing or riding a jet ski, or snowboarding with his friends, he loved being in nature, especially going up river.
Josh enlisted in the Oregon National Guard in September of 2008; he began basic training two weeks after high school graduation. Josh worked as a CH-47 helicopter mechanic in the Guard and was deployed with his unit to Afghanistan for 12 months in 2010. When he returned, he went through warrant officer training and flight school, graduating top of his class and earning a Certificate of Outstanding Achievement, and became a CH-47 pilot where he received the rank of Warrant Officer I. He received an honorable discharge from active duty, and returned to National Guard reserve status. His unit, 1-168 AVN, is based out of Pendleton, OR. Throughout his career he received multiple certificates, awards, and medals.
Josh loved to fly. He had earned his private pilot rating in fixed wing aircraft and commercial rating in rotary wing aircraft. He was currently attending Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Portland, OR and planned on becoming a commercial pilot. Josh was extremely career and family oriented, always putting his career and family first.
Survivors include his father and stepmother, Gary and Noni Carter of Gold Beach; mother and stepfather, Laura and Brent Woods of Divide, CO. His brothers and sisters include Rebecca Carter of Tulsa, OK, Dustin Carter, Savanah Carter, Holly Reynolds, Tanner Sharp, and Aaron Sharp of Gold Beach, Katrina Woods of Portland, OR, and Krisha Ray of Salem, OR; grandparents: Lowell and Charlene Carter of Gold Beach, Lon Walker of Oroville, CA, Nancy Breeding of Hawthorne, NV, Don and Sonja Fleming of Gold Beach, Frank and Clara Amsbaugh of Cripple Creek, CO; great grandparents: Dale and Vivian Wood of Gold Beach; aunts and uncles: Bruce and Joanne Carter, Angela Carter and Darwin Sprinkle, Lisa and Ted Kennedy, Ann and Bruce McFie, and Danny Walker.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675 or online at www.woundedwarriorsproject.org.
A celebration of Joshs life will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, April 19, 2014 at the First Baptist Church of Gold Beach, 29755 Turner St. in Gold Beach. The Patriot Guard will escort the funeral procession to Rogue River Cemetery, Hunter Creek Road in Gold Beach, where full military honors will be rendered. Everyone is invited back to the church for a luncheon reception following the graveside service.
