Arthur Edward Carroll

Bluefield, WV- Arthur Edward Carroll, 88, of 2712 Clovis Street in Bluefield, WV passed away at home on Tuesday, January 31. He was born May 28, 1928 to Lettie Celestia and Dan Marion Carroll of Bluefield. He graduated from Bluefield High School, and in 1950 he earned a degree in Commerce from Carson Newman College. He married the love of his life Barbara Lou Anderson on August 22, 1950, and they lived happily together in Bluefield for 66 years. Arthur was a veteran of the U.S. Army and earned a Bronze Star in Korea. Upon returning from Korea he resumed management of the family grocery store, Burkhart & Carroll founded in 1916, with his father. After they closed the Bland Street store in 1978, he was employed at Acme Market until his retirement in 1990. Arthur was a lifelong member of Bluefield First Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School starting at age 14. He also served First Baptist as a trustee and a deacon. He worked on numerous church committees and was a proud member of the Senior OASIS group. Arthur also held various leadership positions in numerous state and local Baptist associations. Outside of work and church, Arthur was an avid gardener who took great joy in nurturing his vegetable garden. He also loved to cook and experiment with recipes. He enjoyed writing, and in 1989 his poem “Bluefield—Fields of Blue”” was selected as the official Bluefield Centennial poem. In 2015 he wrote the words to the hymn, “Go Tell the World,” which will be sung at his funeral. Arthur enjoyed doing for others and for years he coordinated and helped cook the men’s breakfast at First Baptist and actively served the community through the Bibles in the Schools program, the Bluefield Union Mission, where he served on the Board of Directors, and the Bluefield YMCA’s Men’s Club. Arthur also served as the President of the Bluefield Red Cross. Arthur offered many a kind word and gentle smile to those in need. He was a dearly loved husband and father, an adored grandfather and a cherished friend of many. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Barbara Anderson Carroll; daughter Karen Carroll Walker and her husband Jeffery D. Walker of Knoxville, TN; son Dr. Stephen A. Carroll and his wife Bettie H. Carroll of Walkertown, NC; three grandchildren, Marion A. Carroll of Greenville, SC and Jacob J. Walker and Caleb D. Walker of Knoxville, TN. Arthur is also survived by his brother Dr. Dan Marion Carroll, Jr. of Waco, TX, and his sister Mattie Carroll Mullins of Johnson City, TN. The funeral will be held at 2 pm on Sunday, February 5 at First Baptist Church in Bluefield, WV followed by a brief gravesite ceremony at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA. The family will receive visitors at Mercer Funeral Home in Bluefield WV from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, February 4. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to Bibles in the Schools, Bluefield Union Mission, or Senior OASIS at First Baptist Church. Those wishing to share memories or condolence messages with the family may do so by visiting www.MercerFuneralHome.com Mercer Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family of Arthur Carroll. Bluefield, WV- Arthur Edward Carroll, 88, of 2712 Clovis Street in Bluefield, WV passed away at home on Tuesday, January 31. He was born May 28, 1928 to Lettie Celestia and Dan Marion Carroll of Bluefield. He graduated from Bluefield High School, and in 1950 he earned a degree in Commerce from Carson Newman College. He married the love of his life Barbara Lou Anderson on August 22, 1950, and they lived happily together in Bluefield for 66 years. Arthur was a veteran of the U.S. Army and earned a Bronze Star in Korea. Upon returning from Korea he resumed management of the family grocery store, Burkhart & Carroll founded in 1916, with his father. After they closed the Bland Street store in 1978, he was employed at Acme Market until his retirement in 1990. Arthur was a lifelong member of Bluefield First Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School starting at age 14. He also served First Baptist as a trustee and a deacon. He worked on numerous church committees and was a proud member of the Senior OASIS group. Arthur also held various leadership positions in numerous state and local Baptist associations. Outside of work and church, Arthur was an avid gardener who took great joy in nurturing his vegetable garden. He also loved to cook and experiment with recipes. He enjoyed writing, and in 1989 his poem “Bluefield—Fields of Blue”” was selected as the official Bluefield Centennial poem. In 2015 he wrote the words to the hymn, “Go Tell the World,” which will be sung at his funeral. Arthur enjoyed doing for others and for years he coordinated and helped cook the men’s breakfast at First Baptist and actively served the community through the Bibles in the Schools program, the Bluefield Union Mission, where he served on the Board of Directors, and the Bluefield YMCA’s Men’s Club. Arthur also served as the President of the Bluefield Red Cross. Arthur offered many a kind word and gentle smile to those in need. He was a dearly loved husband and father, an adored grandfather and a cherished friend of many. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Barbara Anderson Carroll; daughter Karen Carroll Walker and her husband Jeffery D. Walker of Knoxville, TN; son Dr. Stephen A. Carroll and his wife Bettie H. Carroll of Walkertown, NC; three grandchildren, Marion A. Carroll of Greenville, SC and Jacob J. Walker and Caleb D. Walker of Knoxville, TN. Arthur is also survived by his brother Dr. Dan Marion Carroll, Jr. of Waco, TX, and his sister Mattie Carroll Mullins of Johnson City, TN. The funeral will be held at 2 pm on Sunday, February 5 at First Baptist Church in Bluefield, WV followed by a brief gravesite ceremony at Grandview Memory Gardens in Bluefield, VA. The family will receive visitors at Mercer Funeral Home in Bluefield WV from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, February 4. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to Bibles in the Schools, Bluefield Union Mission, or Senior OASIS at First Baptist Church. Those wishing to share memories or condolence messages with the family may do so by visiting www.MercerFuneralHome.com Mercer Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family of Arthur Carroll.

Arthur Edward Carroll

May 29, 1928 - January 31, 2017