Charles B. Carter Sr. M.D.

Charles B. Carter Sr. M.D., of Carmel, passed away at the age of 81 on Wednesday June 19, 2019. He was born on September 15, 1937 in Tillman, South Carolina, son of the late Samuel Marvin and Mary Lethard (“Letha”) Carter.

After growing up in Charleston, South Carolina, Dr. Carter graduated from North Charleston High School in 1955, followed by the College of Charleston in 1959.

Few know that Dr. Carter first met his bride to be at the age of 16, while working at a soda counter. Eleanor, who was 15 at the time, taught dance at the studio next door to the soda shop. She taught the children’s class, and always promised the tiny dancers a little treat at the end of class. One day, she went to the soda counter and said “30 pieces of bubble gum, please, and be quick about it,” not knowing she was speaking to her future husband. They reunited years later while in college.

Dr. Carter attended the Medical University of South Carolina, was admitted to Alpha Omega Alpha honor medical society, and graduated in 1963. While in medical school, Dr. Carter married Eleanor in 1961. The Carters’ eldest son was born in South Carolina. The trio moved to Charlottesville, Virginia, for Dr. Carter’s internship, residency and fellowship in Nephrology at the University of Virginia. The Carters had three more children while living in Charlottesville. After his residency, Dr. Carter served for three years in the U.S. Army, with assignments at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Silver Springs, Maryland, and the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

In 1971, Dr. Carter moved his family to Indianapolis to help start the kidney transplant program at Methodist Hospital. On January 1, 1972, he oversaw the first kidney transplant in the nation to be performed at a private hospital. For the next 46 years, Dr. Carter devoted his practice to serving the needs of patients with kidney disease. During that time, he served as president of the Methodist Hospital Medical Staff and medical director of the Methodist Hospital kidney transplant program. The nature of Dr. Carter’s medical practice required him to meet regularly with his patients for many years. Doing so enabled Dr. Carter to get to know them and their families well. His patients frequently expressed their gratitude for his life-giving care, his calm and loving bedside manner, and his ongoing support.

While his family was young, Dr. Carter began a tradition of hosting “beach week” over the July 4 holiday on the coast of South Carolina. Extended family gathered for a week of swimming, golf, catching, cleaning and cooking crabs, reminiscing and telling stories. In the early years, the family would meet at Folly Beach. Over time, the location changed to the Isle of Palms, one of his most cherished vacation spots. This tradition continued through the 2000s, and saw the family grow to include his children’s spouses and his four grandchildren.

Promoting organ donation was a calling for Dr. Carter. He helped establish state, regional and national networks for matching patients with available donor organs. He led the South Eastern Organ Procurement Foundation as its president, a pioneering professional organization for sharing donor organs across multiple transplant programs. That program evolved into the United Network for Organ Sharing and the American Foundation for Donation and Transplantation. Dr. Carter also served as the medical director of the Indiana Organ Procurement Organization, now known as the Indiana Donor Network, coordinating organ donation across the state of Indiana. In 1995, the Kidney Foundation honored Dr. Carter as its man of the year. Recognizing his significant contributions to improving the lives of Hoosiers, Governor Evan Bayh named Dr. Carter a Sagamore of the Wabash.

In addition to serving his patients, Dr. Carter worked as a track doctor at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for several years, kindling his family’s life-long passion for motorsports. Annual family outings included trips to the Indy 500 (with one year in Michigan), the Brickyard 400, Mid-Ohio, and other races as schedules permitted. The tradition continues to this day.

Dr. Carter also enjoyed participating in the Porsche Club of America. He spent many weekends at Wolf Run Golf Club in Zionsville savoring time with his sons and his friends.

The Carters also provided a home to many different domestic pets over the years, including multiple dogs, cats, birds, and even rabbits. (One bird, an African Grey, learned to mimic Dr. Carter answering the telephone when he was on call, so much so that you could not tell one from the other.)

A man of many names – Dr. Carter, Doc, Charles, Charlie, Dad, and Granddaddy, Dr. Carter was beloved by so many: his patients, his friends, and his family. Known for his sharp wit, easy laugh and broad smile, he will be deeply missed.

Dr. Carter is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Eleanor Frances (Collins); children, Charles B. (Stephanie Sambol) Carter Jr., M.D., Allyson Ashby Carter, Geoffrey Richard Carter and C. Stuart (Amie Peele) Carter; grandchildren, Benjamin Bryant Carter, McLean Stuart Carter, Harrison Reese Carter, and Lily Frances Carter; and brother-in-law, Joseph Eugene Stevenson. He is preceded in death by his brother, Samuel Marvin Carter Jr., and sister, Miriam Frances Stevenson.

Friends and family are invited to gather to celebrate Dr. Carter’s life on Wednesday June 26, 2019 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Flanner Buchanan – Carmel (325 E. Carmel Dr., Carmel, IN 46032). A memorial service will begin at 11:00 am on Thursday June 27, 2019 at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church (4780 E. 126th St., Carmel, IN 46033), followed by a luncheon. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Indiana Donor Network, at www.indianadonornetwork.org. Please visit www.flannerbuchanan.com to sign the online guest register.