Frank Carlton

Frank Conant Carlton

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Frank Conant Carlton on August 12, 2025, just 16 days shy of his 92nd birthday. Born on August 28, 1933, in Passaic, New Jersey, Frank lived a life marked by service, adventure, and deep devotion to family and community.

Frank was the son of an inventive electrical engineer and a dedicated English teacher turned school counselor. His father helped pioneer modern radio communications for boats and trains in the military, then worked for Bell Labs on the first U.S. televisions—making theirs the first home in Radburn, NJ with a TV. Frank’s childhood was filled with swimming, hiking, camping, tennis, and time with friends. He served as president of his Radburn HS senior class and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in his local Boy Scout troop.

He attended Dartmouth College on an NROTC scholarship, majoring in Government and minoring in Naval Studies. A member of Kappa Sigma fraternity and the Green Key Honor Society, Frank’s true passions were the Outing Club, the Winter Ice Sculpture Carnival, and his courtship of childhood sweetheart Nancy Nicholson – hitchhiking several times to visit her in Ohio. After graduating from Dartmouth (Nancy from Oberlin), they married in 1955 and began their life together in San Diego, where Frank served aboard the USS Bayfield while Nancy taught third grade.

Frank’s post-war military journey took him to Hawaii, Japan, South Korea, and eventually back to the U.S., where he pursued a Master’s in Local and State Government at the Wharton School. His career in city management included positions in Lodi and Milpitas, California; Cottage Grove, Oregon; Derry, New Hampshire; and Pikeville, Kentucky, where he served as the first City Manager and helped lead transformative infrastructure projects. He was later honored as a Kentucky Colonel for his public service.

Frank and Nancy raised four children—Linda, Jeff, Doug, and Amy—while embracing a life of community engagement, outdoor adventure, and cultural exchange. They hosted numerous international students and enjoyed camping, skiing, and traveling both domestically and internationally. A longtime Rotarian, Frank embodied the Rotary motto "Service Above Self." One example of his selfless service was his regular blood donations—though in truth he may have just liked the free cookies! With AB-negative blood (the rarest of the common types), Frank donated over 20 gallons in his lifetime.

After retiring in 1988 from his position as the City Manager of Pikeville, KY Frank worked at AppalReD as a pro bono coordinator for legal aid (Volunteer Lawyers for Appalachian Kentucky). He remained active in civic life, on the Board of Directors for the David School in David, KY.

Following Nancy’s stroke, they moved to Cascade Manor in Eugene, Oregon, where Frank remained a devoted husband and vibrant community member.

They lived independently for 15 years, during which time Frank served on committees, was a faithful member of Central Presbyterian Church, active in the Eugene City Club, vice president of the Manor’s Residents Association, garden and grounds committee, and president of CM League of Women Voters. He enjoyed Eugene’s many social and cultural events, swam regularly in the Cascade Manor pool, played bridge and Scrabble, hosted a friendship table in the Columbia Dining Room (yum!), and ensured Nancy stayed engaged and joyful - with family close by.

They moved to Cascade Manor's assisted living floor for a few years during COVID then, and then in 2022, Frank and Nancy moved to the CM Health Care Center (HCC), where they both thrived thanks to the amazing support of their professional staff and care team. Ever social, Frank and Nancy became avid members of the HCC dining room club, enjoying trivial pursuit, bingo, and other games, along with sing-a-longs, and doggie visits. The family continued to gather, albeit closer to Eugene for annual family reunions, bringing grandchildren and great grandchildren to Eugene. On June 18, they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with a party singalong at Cascade Manor.

Survived By:

Frank is survived by his beloved wife Nancy; sister Carol (Reg Spooner); children Linda (Bill) Shults, Jeff Carlton, Doug Carlton, and Amy (Scott) Harter; grandchildren Steve (Alex) Shults, Ricky (Maggie) Shults, Kyle Harter, and Ben Harter; great-grandchildren Paxton, Carter, Maddux, Carlton, and Frankie; and sister-in-law Linda (Tom) Roe. Frank is also survived by his nephew Ned Hentz (Kate), and his nieces Carrie Miller (Bruce), Lisa Solberg (Ståle), Cindy Kampen (Tony), and Crissy Roe (Ben Cornish) and their families who all brought much joy to Frank!

With Gratitude:

The family is deeply grateful to the staff of Cascade Manor Health Care Center for their compassionate care, companionship, and countless chocolate milkshakes that kept Frank smiling and comfortable in his final years.

Celebration of Life & Memorial Services:

The family will hold two gatherings on Saturday, August 23:

• Celebration of Life: 11:00 AM in the Cascade Manor Lobby
• Memorial Service: 4:00 PM at Central Presbyterian Church of Eugene (also viewable online https://vimeo.com/centralpreseugene)

In Lieu of Flowers

Donations in Frank’s name are appreciated to any of the following organizations:

• Square One Villages, https://www.squareonevillages.org/
• Michael J. Fox, Parkinson Foundation, https://www.michaeljfox.org/
• Humane World for Animals, https://www.humaneworld.org/en
• The David School, https://mydavidschool.org/
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Frank’s legacy lives on in the communities he served, the family he cherished, and the countless lives he touched with his kindness, wisdom, and unwavering dedication.