John Carlton

John Russell Carlton of Boulder, Colorado passed away peacefully on February 24th, 2017 at Manorcare Boulder after a short illness. Russ, or John, or JR (depending on who knew him) was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 20th, 1931. At the age of 2 his family relocated to Reno, NV, where his father worked in construction and built the home where Russ grew up. Russ graduated from Reno High School and attended Pasadena Bible College, where he met his wife, Mary Louise (Marylou) Brown. They married on March 24th, 1951. Russ was drafted into the Army and served in Okinawa as a communications tower technician during the Korean War. After discharge, he attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and received his bachelor’s degree in irrigation engineering. After a few years traveling as a salesman, he found work at Westside Pump Company in Fresno, CA, where he and his wife had two daughters, Laurie and Julie. In the early 1970s he relocated with his family to the metro Kansas City area, and worked as an executive in sales for Rainbird Sprinklers and Johns Manville. In the mid-70s he and his family moved back to Fresno for a few years before finally settling in Columbus, NE in 1977. Russ worked as VP of Advertising for Lindsay Corporation, making Zimmatic center pivot irrigation systems. In 1986, Russ and Marylou moved to Grand Island, NE, before moving to Brighton, CO and eventually settling in Longmont, CO. Russ never officially retired, and continued working in sales, driving throughout his territories, selling commercial lighting systems in rural eastern Colorado. In 1994, Marylou suffered a debilitating stroke, and Russ was her loving caretaker until her death in 2002. Russ continued to enjoy living at Eagle Place in Niwot, CO, before transitioning to Golden West in Boulder, then finally at Manorcare Boulder in 2013. Russ (Dad) was a good-natured, gentle man. He was full of jokes or a snappy comeback, and loved puns. He was a tremendously hard worker, continually striving to get ahead in the advertising and sales world, without the cutthroat tactics; he was fair and friendly. He always had time for family, and loved camping trips to Yosemite and Sequoia National Forest. He prized his road trips, always fiddling with the radio, reading a map, and driving with one knee. He could build a deck, install sprinklers singlehandedly, plant enormous gardens, had the best roses and lawn on the block. In his later years, he reveled in remembering his Army years, and was very proud of his service to his country. He reacquainted himself to the Church of the Nazarene, the church of his youth, and become an avid member in Longmont. After becoming a widower after 51 years of marriage, he became somewhat of a ladies’ man, was always kind and generous, and always a sharp dresser, always ready to spread compliments and good cheer to everyone. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Raymond and Kitty Carlton of Reno, NV, his brother Bill, and his wife Marylou. He is survived by his daughters, Laurie Lynn Cullum (Tupper) of Boulder, CO, and Julie Carlton (Cordy Barrera) of Yakima, WA. He will be interred with his wife Marylou at 10:30am on Saturday, March 25th at Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, CO. We would like to thank the amazing and kind staff at Manorcare Boulder Compassus Hospice Care for their attentiveness, friendship, and dedication to making Russ’ final years the best they could be. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Alzheimer Disease & Dementia Association or the Dementia Society of America.