Donald Richard Carver (Doc) was “called home by the Lord” while vacationing with family on Cape Hatteras, N.C. on July 8. He was surrounded by family and loved ones when he passed.
Donald was born in Frenchtown, N.J. on Oct. 27, 1935 to Horace and Mary (Flek) Carver. “Donny” grew up in Frenchtown, playing sports for numerous local baseball, football, and basketball teams including those at Frenchtown High School, where he graduated. He attended Ursinus College in State College, Penn. Although he was invited to try out for several professional sports teams, Don had his sights on a career in medicine and attended Temple University where he earned the nickname “Doc.”
Prior to finishing at Temple University he met a beautiful lady named Bonnie Jean Marmula. They fell in love and were engaged to be married. The U.S. military also called and the newlyweds began traveling with the U.S. Navy. After graduating from the Navy’s Officer Candidate School, Doc became a Navy pilot, flying everything from seaplanes to fighter jets during the Vietnam War. He later became a Navy Meteorologist serving on two deployments aboard the USS Intrepid during the Cold War. The military took Doc and Bonnie to numerous ports of call including Florida, Texas, California, Idaho, Arizona, Bermuda, New England and the Mid-Atlantic.
Frequent moving and long deployments did not stop them from raising a family. Together, they had three boys. Between assignments, Doc spent quality time taking the family camping and sightseeing across the nation. As military life slowed and a new career with the Federal Aviation Administration developed, Doc became more involved with family activities and the community. He became a basketball and football coach. Doc also took on the courageous task of Scout Master for two different Boy Scout troops and organized adventures such as 20-mile Appalachian Trial hikes and 100-mile white water canoe trips. As his boys grew older, Doc was instrumental in preparing and supporting them, as they set off on their own.
Doc and Bonnie retired and spent several years helping the boys with their young families. They spent valuable time with their grandkids and taught them about life in many little ways. Once the grandkids were off to school and busy with extra activities, they built a little cottage on the coast in New Harbor. Doc and Bonnie made one last move within a stone’s throw from where they vacationed every year for twenty years. Doc loved the small town atmosphere, which reminded him of his childhood home. He joined the church choir, volunteered for many community events, hosted picnics, and enjoyed the company of others.
Bonnie passed in early 2011 with Doc by her side. Although he grieved her loss, Doc remained as active as ever. He traveled overseas, reconnected with high school and college classmates, and kept in touch with a huge collection of friends amassed from a lifetime of professional and personal travel.
Doc Carver is survived by brother Horace (Huck) Carver; and sons, Donald Craig Carver and children, Austin (A.J.) and Madison of Fallston, Md., Neal Graham Carver and children, Trevor and Zachary of Crofton, Md. and Joel Scott Carver of Baltimore, Md., his middle son.
Doc’s ashes will be held by the family for two memorial services in his honor.
The first memorial service will be held 11 a.m., Sat., Oct. 13 at the New Harbor United Methodist Church, 8 Southside Rd., New Harbor. The second memorial service will be 11 a.m., Sat., Nov. 3 at the St. James’ Parish, 5757 Solomon’s Island Rd., Lothian, Md.
Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
