James A. 'Jim' Carter, 78

James A. “Jim” Carter, 78, passed away in Sandpoint, Idaho, on Wednesday, April 7, 2010.

Jim was born on June 18, 1931, to Andrew A. and Anna M. Carter in Superior, Wis.

He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and was selected for pilot training. He was assigned to the 35th fighter squadron flying F-86s at Suwon Air Force Base, Korea. He left active duty to return to college and fly for the air guard in Duluth, Minn.

He was sent to Denver to attend aircraft maintenance officer’s school. There he married Tommie Beth Kent on June 20, 1959. They had three children, Jami, Kent and Craig.

Jim worked for 10 years at the Colorado Air National Guard as a flying training instructor.

During this time he attended the Fighter Weapons School and the Air Command Staff College. He was recalled for the USS Pueblo incident off Korea in 1968 and subsequently received orders for Vietnam, where he flew 270 combat missions in the F-100 and was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

Jim met Keith Marston in Berlin, Germany, where he was stationed for 3 years. They married in 1975 when he was released from active duty. Jim and Keith moved to Fairchild AFB, Wash., where he returned to active duty until his retirement in 1980. During this time they began building their home on property near Mac-Arthur Lake that Jim had purchased in 1961.

He acquired more adjacent property and began learning to be a logger. He dearly loved working with his D-4s in the woods and enjoying the home, garden, orchard and trout pond he and Keith had created out of dense forest. He also loved sailing and traveling in their RV.

Jim is survived by his wife, Keith Carter of Naples, Idaho; a son, Craig Carter and his daughter Saige; a son-in-law, Eric Pond and children Spencer, and Grayden; and by his sister, Milly Carter of Pueblo, Colo. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Kent; and a daughter, Jami.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to Bonner Community Hospice, P.O. Box 1448, Sandpoint, ID 83864 or the East Bonner County Library District, 1407 Cedar, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

Family and friends are invited to sign Jim’s online guestbook at www.coffeltfuneral.com.

Final arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.