Richard Jerome Carteaux

Richard Jerome Carteaux, 87, husband of 65 years to Allene Martin Carteaux, died Saturday, March 20, 2021. Born in Ft. Wayne, IN, he was the son of the late Clarence F. Carteaux and Bernice Huth Carteaux and brother to the late Rosemary Dawson, Phyllis Genovesi and Betty Carteaux. Dick’s family moved to Athens when he was 10 years old and he has been a resident there since. He and Allene dated from the time they were 16 years old, were married in 1955, and celebrated their 65th anniversary last June. They both attended Athens High School and were in fact ‘Mr and Mrs AHS’ of 1950. (The school paper printed a purposeful misprint as MRS because of the close relationship they had even then.)

Dick had many careers in his life including running a Sinclair station on Prince Avenue, being the service manager at Brack Rowe Chevrolet, and retiring from Thornton Brothers Paper Company. He attended Georgia Tech for one year but was nevertheless an avid Bulldawg fan. He could construct or fix anything! He enjoyed playing football and basketball in his high school years and golf after his retirement. He really enjoyed watching his grandchildren and great grandchildren play volleyball, basketball, football, baseball, soccer, cross country, cheer, and golf  ~ going to their events as recently as a few months ago, even venturing out during this covid time.

Survivors in addition to his wife include two daughters: Nancy (Chip) Milner and Jody (Pete) Rodriguez; brother: Tommy (Gail) Carteaux; sister in law Joyce Corrigan; brother in law Bob Genovesi; grandchildren: Chad (Wendi) Milner, Lauren (Grant) Caldwell, Abby (Jon) Mann, Christian (Kaziah) Milner, Jordan and Jackie Rodriguez; great grandchildren: Sage and Luke Milner, Copeland, Hatcher and Henry Caldwell, Annabel, Emerson and Millie Mann and a number of nieces and nephews. He was also a second father to many, including his nephews Ward and Martin Howell. Each child had a unique relationship with ‘Grandicky’ from the time he held them for hours as babies on his ‘big tummy” to the many times he encouraged them and told them all ‘his stories’ over and over!  He loved his wife and daughters fiercely and claimed his sons in law as the sons he never had. He repeatedly expressed his faith in Jesus and faced death with a peace that was a testimony to all that witnessed it in the last days of his life, which perhaps was his greatest legacy.

Graveside services will be held Monday, March 22, 2021 at 11AM at Evergreen Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Salvation Army or St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, WEST is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephes.com