Sunday, July 26, 2009

Carleton W. Voltz 2004

Newspaper Date: 5 Dec 2004 Traverse City Record Eagle, Traverse City, MI

FRANKFORT - Carleton W. Voltz was born in Oak Park, Ill. on Jan. 30, 1937, to Edna M. and Carleton E. Voltz. He attended Oak Park High School.

A distinguished military graduate from Ripon College in Wisconsin, he entered the United States Army in 1959 as a 2nd lieutenant in the Armored Division. Subsequently, he completed flight school and was a fixed wing pilot at Fort Rucker Army Aviation School. Carleton was sent to Korea in 1962. As an observer passenger in a helicopter checking boundary markers, the helicopter was shot down. He and the pilot were held as prisoners from May 17, 1963, to May 16, 1964. He returned to Frankfort upon his release. After a year at Fort Sheridan's Fifth Army Post in 1965, he joined American Airlines, where he was a commercial pilot for many years.

Having summered at Crystal Lake since childhood, he was able to realize his dream and moved to Frankfort in 1977. He retired from American Airlines in the early '90s and was able to pursue his many hobbies, including his passion for his Lionel Train collection, tinkering and rebuilding classic car engines, woodworking, and occasionally hunting and fishing. Bill was creative and mechanically inclined and had a reputation among his many friends of being able to help fix almost anything from plumbing to car problems.

Bill suffered a stroke three years ago and another recently.

Surviving are his son, Carleton W. "Bill" Voltz of New Orleans; a brother, James W. Voltz of Texas; nieces, Julie and Lisa; his mother-in-law, Alice Long; and former wife, Suzanne of Frankfort. He was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law, Bob Long; and his beloved dog, Lionel.

A memorial service is planned for June. Memorial donations may be made to the Paul Oliver Hospital Foundation for Long Term Care or the charity of one's choice. The Benzonia Chapel of McElduff Funeral Home and Cremation Service is handling the arrangements.

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