Charles Emil Carter

Charles E. (Charlie) Carter, 89, of Owenton, died on June 12, 2026, at Baptist Hospital in Louisville, after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife Betty (Cobb), sons Charles, Jr., and John, brothers-in-law Melvyn Cobb and Greg Cobb, sisters-in-law Patricia Cobb and Annette (Allen) Cobb, and many nieces and nephews.

Charlie was born in 1936 at home just outside of Lockport, the youngest of seven children during the hard times of the Depression. He weighed 4 pounds. At age 15, he was baptized up Six Mile Creek and was a member of the Lockport Baptist Church. He graduated from Pleasureville High School in 1953 at age 16, by then the church Sunday School superintendent. In 1956, he graduated from the University of Kentucky with an AB, from the UK College of Law in 1959 with an LLB (now known as a JD), and passed the bar exam that fall. Two years of ROTC were required at UK at the time, as it was a land grant college, but Charlie completed four in Army ROTC. After passing the Kentucky bar, he trained for four months as a field artillery forward observer at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, was stationed for three months at Fort Knox, and considered a career in the military, but as he was about to get married and start a family, he decided to move to Owenton and open his legal practice in April 1960. On June 4, 1960, he married Betty Cobb of Eminence, Ky., his partner in all things until the day he died. Sons Charles and John followed, both growing up to be lawyers as well. In 1965 they bought the house they lived in until he died. Just days before he passed, he and Betty had their 66th wedding anniversary.

As an attorney, Charlie was proud to serve his community, never completely retiring. In addition to operating a general practice for 66 years, he served as Owen County Attorney from January 1986 until December 2010. Among the long list of community clients and service he was involved in over his career, he was a longtime director of Peoples Bank, served on the Owen County Hospital Board, and represented the Owen County Board of Education. Charlie was more than a legal services provider; for him, it was all about helping people with their problems. He took great pride in all the people he was able to help, from all backgrounds, during some of the most difficult times of their lives. He ran property titles on almost every piece of land in Owen and the surrounding counties. Charlie was also a devoted farm owner throughout his life, at various times owning or trading tobacco, dairy, and cattle farms in Owen, Henry, and Shelby Counties. Managing these farms gave him great joy throughout his entire adult life.

Charlie and Betty joined First Baptist Church in Owenton, Kentucky, as soon as they got married. They were soon leading activities with the youth who were active in Training Union, and they have been grateful for all the friendships with those no-longer-youth all the years since. They taught the “young” married couples Sunday School class for many decades, and Charlie served as deacon and church moderator for many decades as well. His Christian faith was the most important thing in his life, from which everything else flowed.

Charlie was predeceased by his parents Linden and Frances Nile (Sutton) Carter and siblings Ruth O’Brien, Mildred Downey, Gene Carter, Naomi Staples, Jessie Mitchell, and William Carter. His funeral will be at First Baptist Church, Owenton, on June 16, at 4:00 pm, with visitation at 2:00 pm, and a meal graciously provided by members of the church and hosted by the church hospitality committee immediately after the service. Interment will be at Floydsburg Cemetery, just outside Crestwood, with service starting at 11:00 am on June 17, at which all are welcome. Arrangements by Stoess Funeral Home, Crestwood, with local assistance by New Funeral Homes, Owenton.

Please remember Charlie in your stories—he took such joy in telling all his stories to you.

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