Lloyd Carter

Lloyd Darius “Chief” Carter, 81, of Lake Station, Indiana, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by the love of his family. Born in Jamestown, Tennessee, on January 2, 1945, to Jesse and Etta Carter, Lloyd was the oldest of eight children and grew up with the strong values of loyalty, hard work, and family that shaped his entire life. Lloyd proudly served in the United States Navy from 1963 to 1966 during the Vietnam era. He was stationed aboard the USS Coral Sea (CVA 43) as a Boiler Tender, advancing to the rank of Petty Officer. His service included supporting combat operations in Southeast Asia, earning the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and receiving hostile fire pay. He carried deep pride in his Navy years and the brotherhood he found there. After his military service, Lloyd spent his career behind the wheel, first driving over the road and later working locally. As a proud member of Teamsters Local 142 for more than 25 years, he played a steady role in building and maintaining the local infrastructure. His work included hauling materials to job sites and removing debris from abandoned home demolitions — the kind of hard, necessary labor that keeps a community moving forward. In 1982, Lloyd met and married Laurie, the love of his life. Together they created a blended family, bringing together Lloyd’s four children and Laurie’s two children, and later welcoming one child of their own — a family built not just by blood, but by choice. Being a Papa was the joy of Lloyd’s life. He was blessed with eleven grandchildren and three great grandchildren, each of whom brought him pride, laughter, and a sense of purpose in his later years. He is survived by his wife, Laurie; his sons Eric Carter, David Carter, Steven (Leah) Price, and Daniel (Brianna) Carter; his daughters Kimberly Blankenship and Jaime Purnot; his brothers Buddy (Barbara) Carter, Sonny Carter, and Boyd Carter; his sister, Jo Copley; and his mother in law, Gay Bergman. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren, three great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins; and by his little dog, Rizzo, who adored him and stayed close to him until the very end. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Etta Carter; his twin brothers, Hubert and Herbert Carter; his sister in law, Wanda Moon; his son, Thomas Wenzel; and his father in law, Arthur Bergman. Honoring Lloyd’s wishes, there will be no formal service. After a long and storied life, we take comfort in knowing he is finally released from the eight year, unforgiving grip of dementia. In lieu of flowers, remembrance donations may be made in Lloyd’s name to the Dementia Society of America, PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901. Burns Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with the arrangements. Please visit Lloyd’s online guestbook and obituary at www.BurnsFuneral.com

Lloyd Carter

January 2, 1945 - April 8, 2026