Carter, Keith (1932-2011)
CARTER, WHITESITT
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 2/10/2011 at 11:24:42
Keith Carter
October 08, 1932 - February 06, 2011Newell, Iowa
Keith Allen Carter was born on October 8th, 1932, on a farm in Northeast Sac County to Clifford Amer Carter and Ora Whitesitt Carter. He passed away on February 6, 2011, at Trinity Regional Hospital, Ft. Dodge, Iowa, at the age of 78.
As a youth, he attended Douglas # 1, a one-room country school in Sac County. After graduating from the 8th grade, he attended Newell High School in Newell, Iowa. While in high school, he participated in band, choral activities, and drama productions. He was also an accompanist for many groups and a cheerleader.
He graduated from High School as Salutatorian in 1950. Immediately after graduation, he went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he attended Gale Institute, a railroad school. He was trained to be a depot agent and telegrapher at the Institute.
In March of 1951, he accepted a job with the Illinois Central Railroad, breaking into the job under the tutelage of Skeet Rowan at the Newell, Iowa, depot. He served many towns in the Iowa Division as a telegrapher. His longest stints included Peosta, Iowa, Woods Tower in Dubuque, Iowa, and Scales Mound and Galena, Illinois. While living in Dubuque and working a midnight to eight A.M. shift in 1955, he enrolled in college at the University of Dubuque. While working full time and attending college full time, he majored in Social Studies and Education and minored in English. He graduated from the University of Dubuque in 1958. He had completely financed his higher education without help, an accomplishment which he always found a source of satisfaction.
Keith took a job in Lake Zurich, Illinois, as a 6th grade teacher. Here he spent four years and became a member of the Evangelical and Reformed Church in Lake Zurich.
In 1962, looking for adventure and fulfilling a dream to see the world, Keith took a job in Tripoli, Libya, teaching in the Oil Companies School, an assignment which proved very rewarding. He had the privilege of teaching many foreign students as well as American students. The beautiful country with its many archeological sites appealed to his love of history and travel.
He was very active in the Union Church of Tripoli, teaching Sunday School, serving on the Church Council, playing piano for church, and accompanying the church choir. He also took part in community concerts, Broadway productions, and was an active supporter of Little League Baseball. Keith trained many official scorers for the Little League.
In 1982, the United States government requested that all Americans leave Libya. He departed with great sorrow. The twenty years he taught in Libya were extremely rewarding and happy ones.
Shortly thereafter, he considered himself lucky enough when he secured a teaching job in Saudi Arabia working for the world's largest oil company, Saudi Aramco. He was assigned to the Aramco camp of Ras Tanura, where he spent the next 10 years teaching 6th grade until his retirement in 1992. His duties included teaching drama at the school.
The most interesting time in Ras Tanura was during the Gulf War. Iraq made Ras Tanura one of its main targets and launched many scud missiles into the area.
Becoming a member of the Ras Tanura Protestant Fellowship, he played for church, accompanied the choir, and served on the church council. Moreover, he took part in several drama productions, including his favorites, Barnum, Annie, and Harvey. He also played dinner music for many banquets and functions.
After retirement in 1992, Keith moved back to Newell, Iowa. For two years he taught English as a Second Language in Storm Lake, Iowa, to Laotian and Hispanic students at North Elementary School. He also began to work on his Arab Heritage House as a museum in his own home. Finally in 1995, he opened the museum to the public. The number of visitors who came to view his Middle East collection gratified him. He continued to enjoy living in Newell and was interested in school activities. He enjoyed basketball and football games, speech, drama, and musical events at the local high school.
He continued to travel, adding to the more than 100 countries he had previously visited. He gave many talks about the Middle East in the area and played the piano for the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church in Fonda.
Watching many of his students achieve success as adults provided Keith with much satisfaction. He also found great pleasure in his continued visits and correspondence with the many friends he made while overseas.
He is survived by his brother Marshall (Janice) Carter of Alamogordo, New Mexico; two nieces; numerous cousins; and a very large group of friends who still love him.
Friends wishing to make a memorial contribution may choose among the following: the Newell Public Library, the Keith Carter Scholarship Trust Fund (for students graduating from the Newell-Fonda High School), or Otsego Place Assisted Living. They may be mailed to: In Memory of Keith Carter, c/o P.O. Box 392, Newell, Iowa 50568-0392.
Visitation: 3-5:00 p.m., February 13, 2011, at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Newell, Iowa.
Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m., February 14, 2011, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Newell, Iowa.
Interment: February 14, 2011, at the Newell Cemetery in Newell, Iowa.Copyright © 2011, Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home
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