William Allen Carter, 98, of Oak Island, North Carolina, passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 2, 2026, at 2:05 a.m. at Autumn Care in Shallotte, North Carolina.

Bill was born July 15, 1928, in Warren, Pennsylvania, to Mildred Allen and William Carter. He graduated from Lehigh University with a degree in Electrical Engineering and enjoyed a long and accomplished career as an electrical engineer with ITE in Philadelphia, where his ingenuity and problem-solving abilities resulted in numerous patents for electrical circuit breakers.

Bill proudly served in the United States Army during the Korean War. In his younger years, he excelled in flying, diving and gymnastics and developed a lifelong passion for sailing.

Bill married his high school sweetheart, Jean Crossett, on June 27, 1951 in Warren, Pennsylvania. Together they shared over 66 years of marriage and built a loving family filled with memories, laughter, and adventure.

At age 45, Bill made the bold decision to retire from his engineering career and pursue his love of sailing. For nearly 20 years, he lived the life of a sailor and cruiser in the Bahamas, raising his family and spending significant time throughout the Exuma chain, including Little Spirit Cay and Stocking Island.

True to his nature as an engineer and lifelong problem solver, Bill designed and built a 58-foot Mason sailboat, lovingly named Jeanie after his wife, Jean. The boat became the centerpiece of nearly two decades of sailing with his family and reflected Bill’s creativity, independence, engineering talent, and love of the sea.

In addition to his love of sailing, he enjoyed wood working and was well known for his creative step stools. He especially enjoyed playing Russian Banks with family and was happiest when he could teach others to play.

Bill will be remembered not simply for what he accomplished, but for the way he approached life. He possessed a continuous desire to learn, experiment, teach, remain curious, and stayed well engaged throughout his 98 years.

While Bill had many interests and accomplishments, his greatest love was his family and friends. He made friends easily, treasured gatherings, and brought warmth, laughter, and genuine affection to those around him.

Bill is survived by his children, Jeff, Scott, Mike, Steve, Craig, Laurie, and Christopher, along with more than 30 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mildred Allen and William Carter, his beloved wife, Jean, his son, Kevin, and other cherished family members.

Bill leaves behind a legacy of family, friendship, curiosity, perseverance, adventure, and a lifelong desire to learn. He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing and loving him.

A truly spectacular life as an Engineer. Husband. Father. Grandfather. Great-grandfather. Sailor. Pilot. Friend. Problem solver. Lifelong learner.

A small family celebration of Bill’s life will be held at Oak Island North Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donation in his name to an organization of your choice in support of the development of STEM in honor of his love of engineering and problem solving, and/or veterans who have given their service in support of our country.

Online condolences are encouraged and may be sent to the family at www.fulwoodfuneralservice.com

Michael J Fulwood Funeral & Cremation Service