of Little Rock, AR

January 30, 1949 - July 10, 2023

William Pearson Carlton, 74, of Little Rock, Arkansas passed away from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis peacefully in his sleep the morning of July 10, 2023. Bill was born on January 30, 1949 in Little Rock, Arkansas to Carrie Lee and Joe Carlton. In 1967, Bill graduated from North Little Rock High School and followed in his great-grandfather, Claude Sidney Carlton's footsteps, to attend Baylor University. In 1970, he married his high school sweetheart, whom he met in the 5th grade, Patricia Rose Carlton. Bill and Pat went on to have two children, Joanna Rose Carlton and John William Carlton.

After graduating with a degree in accounting, Bill went to work with his father, Joe, at Carlton-Bates Company. Bill spent over 40 years at Carlton-Bates Company, an industrial electronics distributor. He successfully grew the company and gained a reputation as an honest and caring, yet tough, businessman. Passionate about innovation in the business world, Bill dedicated much of his life to Carlton-Bates Company. Bill cared deeply for his employees and thrived on having a family-friendly company culture before it was commonplace. After selling his business to a Fortune 500 company in 2005, Bill retired and spent several years traveling, reading, building intensive lego sets and enjoying his family.

Bill was known to be a loyal, kind person, devoted to his family, especially his wife, Pat. Their almost 54-year marriage was the cornerstone of his life and family.

Bill was a philanthropist with a heart for Easter Seals, Alzheimer's Arkansas, Baptist Health Foundation and Fellowship Bible Church. An early adaptor for having a men's presence in the church nursery, Bill shared the gospel with everyone from toddlers to tenth graders and followed up with couples at Community Bible Study. Bill was also grateful for and supported the Baylor University Hankamer School of Business, which he credited for much of his business success.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Carrie Lee and Joe Carlton and his son, John William Carlton. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Rose Carlton; his daughter, Joanna Rose Carlton; daughter-in-law, Kirsten Henry Fredrich and his grandchildren, Sidney Rose, William, Pearson, Collin, Eva, Sawyer and Andrew.

There will be a private graveside service for the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Easterseals Arkansas at 3920 Woodland Heights Road, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72212 or easterseals.com/arkansas

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Chenal Funeral Home
13801 Chenal Parkway
Little Rock, AR  72211
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com