Mr. Carlton Harry Colwell, age 95, of Colwell Drive, Blairsville, Georgia, passed away peacefully Monday, August 9, 2021, in the Union General Hospital following an extended illness.
Carlton was born June 27, 1926, in Blairsville, Georgia, son of the late Patrick Colwell and Hattie Weaver Colwell. Carlton served in the United States Army in 1944. After his discharge, he soon became employed at the Bell Bomber Plant, which is now known as Lockheed Martin. In 1948, Carlton met and later married the love of his life, Odetta Ralston, of Fannin County. After moving Odetta to Atlanta, he worked at General Motors for seven years. As he longed to return to the North Georgia mountains, Carlton established and owned Colwell Construction Company for 71 years, as well as being elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1964 where he proudly served Union County. In his first year serving, he was appointed to the Appropriations Committee where he remained for 30 years. Carlton was a member of the Blairsville Church of Christ where he once served as an elder. Carlton was preceded in death by his parents; brothers; and a son, Mike Colwell May 10, 1968.
Survivors include his loving wife of 73 years, Odetta Colwell of Blairsville; four sons and four daughters-in-law, Curtis and Mary Colwell, Steve and Phyllis Colwell, Doug and Rhonda Colwell and Tom and Karla Colwell, all of Blairsville; one daughter and son-in law; Carla and Steve Drake of Blairsville; ten grandchildren, Haley and Scotty Dyer, Luke and Rebecca Colwell, Jake and Stacy Colwell, Randy and Katie Murdock, David and Jade Dennis, Ralston Drake, Sawyer Drake, Layne Colwell, Candler Colwell and Crawford Colwell; and eight great-grandchildren, Sloane, Jules, Samantha, Catherine, Eliza, Emmet, Grant and Hunter.
Funeral services were held Thursday, August 12, 2021, at 5 p.m. from the Union County Fine Arts Center with Minister Terry Stuart and Minister Butch Jones officiating. An eulogy was presented by Ralston Drake and a reading was done by Jake Colwell. Special music was presented by Kathryn Nelson, Greg Waller and Terry Stuart.
Interment followed in the Union Memory Gardens. Luke Colwell, Scotty Dyer, Candler Colwell, Jake Colwell, Crawford Colwell, Randy Murdock, Ralston Drake, Sawyer Drake and David Dennis served as pallbearers. Parker Daniels, Coleson Daniels, Cole Jenkins, John Akins, Bud Akins, Larry Williams, Dick Bell, Rick Davenport, Ray Parson, Ricky Rich, Jack Lance, Lester Chesser and Derrick Cheek served as honorary pallbearers. The family met with friends Wednesday evening from 5p.m. until 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Blairsville Church of Christ in Carlton’s memory.
Mountain View Funeral Home of Blairsville was in charge of the arrangements.
To sign the family guest book and send condolences visit www.mountainviewfuneralhome.com.