Elmer G. Carden, 92, formerly of the Horseshoe Community, Elizabethton, passed away Sunday, March 6, 2011 at the Life Care Center of Elizabethton.
A native of Osaka, Virginia, he was a son of the late Kinch L. & Juanita Collins Carden. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife Elsie Charlton Carden in 2007, brothers and sisters, Verlin “Fuzz†Carden, Ira Carden and Stella Carden and a granddaughter, Kimberly Carden and great-granddaughter Emily Strickland. Before his illness, he was a very active member of the Watauga First Church of God, where he served on the Board of Trustees and church choir as well as other committees. He loved the old hymns of the church and enjoyed singing in church quartets throughout the years. He was a former member of the Elizabethton Choral Club.
Mr. Carden retired from the Elizabethton Electric System with over 50 years of service. He was a life-time member of the Carter County Rescue Squad. He enjoyed talking with people and never saw a stranger.
Survivors include a son & daughter-in-law: Edward & Judy Carden, Hampton, Virginia. Three Daughters & Sons-in-Law; Frances & Allen Goodwin, Elizabethton, Vickie & Steven Parfitt, Johnson City and Elaine & Mark Gulow, of California. His brothers: Warren G. Carden, Kent, Ohio, Huey Dean Carden, Hampton, Virginia and a sister, Irene Fleenor, Elizabethton, 10 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Several nieces & nephews.
Funeral Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Memorial Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Jim McMahan officiating. Interment will follow in Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active Pallbearers will be Grandsons and Nephews. Honorary Pallbearers will be his church family and retired employees of Elizabethton Electric System.
The family would like to extend a special note of “Thanks†to the Staff of Life Care Center, Elizabethton for the compassionate care extended to our Dad during his last three years and to his special dining room buddies, David Mink, Gerald Clark, Tim Oliver, Worley Henry and Omer Carver.
To those who prefer memorials may be made in memory of Mr. Carden to the “Joseph’s Coat†Mission Offering, c/o Watauga First Church of God, P.O. Box 67, Watauga, Tennessee 37694.
The family will receive friends from 12 noon Tuesday until the service hour at 2 p.m. Friends may also call at the residence of a daughter and son-in-law; Frances & Allen Goodwin.
Condolences may be e-mailed to mfc@chartertn.net.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge.