Helen Buchan Carlton, 90, of Plant City, died May 26, 2014 at Garden Court Hawthorne Village of Brandon.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ida and Robert G. Buchan; husband of 52 years, Harry S. Carlton; sisters, Leola Alford, Nita Miller, Julia Simmons, Roberta Huskey, Ruth Buchan and Marjorie Cooper; and brother, Homer Buchan.
Mrs. Carlton’s parents moved to Coronet, a phosphate mining community east of Plant City, as she began her sophomore year in high school. Upon graduation from historic Plant City High School, she went to work, utilizing her secretarial and bookkeeping skills locally, as well as in New York for the A and P Tea Co. She spent many years as a secretary and bookkeeper for Miles Motor Co. and M.C. Spreader Service, a business partnership between J.A. Miles Jr., her husband, Harry S. Carlton, and Carlton Brothers Inc., a small agricultural concern.
Her husband’s work ethic for his agricultural interests and passion for community service required long hours away from home. As a result, Mrs. Carlton became excellent at multitasking as a full-time bookkeeper/secretary, homeroom/PTA mom, chef, laundress, housekeeper, chauffeur, lawn-keeper, activist in adult/youth church events, etc. She was a devoted wife and mother.
The Carltons were members of the First United Methodist Church of Plant City, where they were married at high noon Jan. 2, 1944. While he was overseas during World War II, she lived with his parents, taught his youngest sister how to drive and worked full-time.
Mrs. Carlton is survived by her son, Robert Carlton, of Plant City; daughter, Pam Anders (Lynn), of Clermont; grandchildren, David Anders (Ronni), of Rockledge; and Katie Helen Anders, of Plant City; great-grandchildren, Reagan, Grace and Gatlin Anders; sister, Winifred Higbe, of Jacksonville; brother, Robert Buchan, of Punta Gorda and many nieces and nephews.
Heartfelt gratitude to her guardian angels, Ruby Davis (Paradise), Barbara Dexter (Plant City), Mellie Mabry (Dover) and Kathaleen Renfro (Thonotosassa); Dr. Anita Patel, staff and administration at Garden Court (Hawthorne Village of Brandon); and LifePath Hospice.
The family will receive friends at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 31, followed by a Celebration of Life service at 11 a.m., at Wells Memorial and Event Center, 1903 W. Reynolds St., Plant City.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that those who wish may contribute to Florida United Methodist Children’s Home, Health Partners Center for Memory and Aging and/or LifePath Hospice.
Online Condolences may be made to the family at wellsmemorial.com.
