Karl H. Cartledge

KARL H. CARTLEDGE July 20, 1922 - January 6, 2015 Karl H. Cartledge was born on July 20, 1922 in Ila, Georgia to Mattie and Claude Cartledge. He was the youngest of five children. He moved to Atlanta, Georgia at a young age and attended Boys High and Georgia Tech. He left Georgia Tech at the beginning of World War II and enlisted in the US Navy and became a fighter pilot. He flew an F6F Hellcat and fought in the Pacific Theatre, flying off the carriers, Lexington and Yorktown in Air Group Nine. He participated in combat in Iwo Jima, Okinawa and the first battle in Tokyo. He received two distinguished flying crosses and five air medals for his service. After the war, he began a career in the furniture business in Griffin, Georgia. Mr. Cartledge owned Ball Bros. Furniture, opening furniture and carpet stores in east Tennessee. He retired in 1974 and moved his family to St. Simons Island. He remained there until 1985 when he and his wife, Lillian, moved to Forsyth to be closer to family. As an active member of the United Methodist Church, he was involved in community service and remained in Forsyth until the passing of his wife in 2004. Mr. Cartledge moved to Macon, Georgia where he spent the remainder of his life committed to making a difference in his community. He established the Lillian T. Cartledge Foundation Fund. Through this Fund, he has established scholarships for the young adults wanting to attend college or technical school in middle Georgia. He has helped many people in our community through many local organizations and provided help for disaster relief victims around the world. Through the Community Foundation, Mr. Cartledge started a nonprofit, Middle Georgia HEARS, for low income families with children needing cochlear implants, allowing them to access therapy in Middle Georgia, an option that had not been available before in our area. To honor his wife’s memory, he donated a room at Pine Point Hospice through MEDCEN and volunteered many hours of service at the Medical Center of Central Georgia, the Friends of the Library, Hospice and the Ronald McDonald House. In 2014, he received the Golden Eagle Award from the Boy Scouts of America for his outstanding service throughout his life. Through his sacrifice he has helped ensure a better quality of life for his community. Mr. Cartledge passed away January 6, 2015 at Pine Point Hospice in Macon, Georgia. His wife of 57 years, Lillian Tyus Cartledge, preceded him in death. He is survived by his daughter, Susan C. Barker. A graveside service will be held Monday, January 12, 2015 at 2:00pm at Oak Hill Cemetery in Griffin, Georgia. A special thanks to Hinetha Irvin, Lisa Kendricks, Mildred Hobbs and Alice Densley for the excellent care they provided him during the last years of his life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Friends of the Library, Kairos Prison Ministry International, and the Methodist Children’s Home. Monroe County Memorial Chapel has charge of arrangements.