Obituary of Eugene Carter

LAKELAND -- Mr. Eugene Dale Carter, the owner of the Subway sandwich shop in Grove Park Shopping Plaza, died of heart failure Tuesday (May 27, 2003) at home. He was 61."We came down here with the intentions of opening the business," said his son, Matthew "Matt" James Carter of Lakeland. "He had brothers and sisters in the business when we moved down from Pennsylvania, and that is how we got into it."Born in Meshoppen, Pa., on April 1, 1942, Mr. Carter owned his own insurance business, working as an independent agent in Pennsylvania.After selling the business, he came to Lakeland from Laceyville, Pa., in 1986. Mr. Carter opened the Subway in Grove Park in 1989.His son described him as an outdoorsman who enjoyed golfing, fishing and hunting. "He used to go to Pennsylvania hunting every year until just a few years ago, when he fell and broke his kneecap. We used to go deep-sea fishing every year. We had a lot of fun together. I wish he could have been here longer, but I have no regrets," Matt Carter said. "If I could turn out to be half the man he was, I'd be doing great."Mr. Carter was also a NASCAR fan, attending some of the annual races in Daytona. "He and I used to go to the 400 and the 500 every year. He was a (Dale) Earnhardt fan until he passed away, then he turned into a fan of Dale Earnhardt Jr.," Matt Carter said.He was a Shriner and a 32nddegree Mason. He was a member of Victory Assembly Church.In addition to his son, Mr. Carter is survived by his mother, Ruth Carter, Meshoppen, Pa.; brothers, Lewis Carter, Sebring, Harold Carter, Alachua; sisters, Esther Yoder, Gainesville, Sharon Carter, Meshoppen; three grandchildren; and former wife, Sally Carter, Lakeland.Visitation will be from 6 to 8 this evening at Lakeland Funeral Home. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Victory Assembly Church, 1401 Griffin Road, Lakeland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lighthouse Ministries, P.O. Box 3112, Lakeland, FL 33802.