Obituary of Bruce Chilton Carter

CARTER: Bruce Chilton Lambton, CD

It is with great sadness that the family of Bruce Chilton Lambton Carter, husband of the late Eunice (nee Maguire) Carter announces his sudden passing at Ridgewood Veterans Wing, Saint John, NB on Sunday, February 12^th, 2023. Born in New Zealand in 1925, he was the son of the late Claude and Ethel Carter.

Bruce is survived by his daughters Suzanne Carter and Leslie Rice (Gary Marsh); his grandchildren Jennifer (Jeremy) Porter, Tara (Mike) Walton, Ben Steeves, Meghan (Trevor) Steeves,  Joanne (Grant) Duncan, Janice (Craig) Hamilton,  and John B. Lisson (Nicole); his great grandchildren Cody Steeves, Alex Steeves, Ethan Vautour, Travis Fleury, Carter Fleury, Maxton Fleury, Levi Walton, Desiree Leavitt, Nathan Hamilton, Kirsten Hamilton, and his great great grandchildren Devin Steeves, Owen Steeves, and Jace Vautour. He is also survived by sisters-in-law Rachel Cleland of New Zealand, Esther (Jim) Magee of Rothesay, NB, Lois (Bry’n) Ross of Dartmouth, NS, and brother-in-law Clement (Lee) Maguire of Cayuga, ON, as well as by many nieces and nephews.
 

Bruce was the first President of the Saint John Figure Skating Club and was responsible for the formation of the Saint John Demolay Order, becoming its first Chapter Dad. Bruce was also a Past Master of Hibernia Masonic Lodge #3 Free and Accepted Masons. After joining the RNZAF in the Second World War, he served as a pilot briefly in the New Hebrides Islands before coming to Canada under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. He was stationed at Camp Borden, Pennfield Ridge Station and Uplands, returning to New Zealand when the war ended with his wife Sadie (nee Moore) before immigrating to Canada in 1949. He was Chief Flight Instructor/Manager of Fundy Flying Club - Saint John Air Services, where he did much to promote aviation in New Brunswick and developed a successful air service to Grand Manan Island. He was a charter member of #250 Wing RCAF Association in Saint John. He joined Transport Canada in 1965, moving to Toronto with his wife Eunice (nee Maguire) and retired as Director of Flight Training in 1987, albeit continuing to serve as a consultant in flight training matters. While in Transport Canada, he updated the Transport Canada Flight Training Manual, the Flight Instructor Guide, designed the Pilot Training Record and was responsible for the formation of the Designated Flight Test Examiner program. His support for the concept of Pilot Decision Making was adopted and developed by Transport Canada. He was a judge for the Webster Memorial Trophy Competition for 22 years. He served as Secretary General for the Aero Club of Canada and the Canadian Sport Aeroplane Association for 20 years.  He was active in the Air Cadet movement and retired as Commanding Officer of #527 (Simonds) Air Cadet Squadron in 1965. He was also organist at the Beckwith Baptist Church in Carleton Place, Ontario before moving back to Saint John in 2011 where he became a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church. Bruce will be missed by the Lot #1 Group on Waikiki Beach, whom he joined yearly since 1975.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister Joan Dixon, brothers Fred Carter and Derek Cleland, and son-in-law Earl Rice.

Visitation will be held at Brenan’s Funeral Home (506-634-7424), 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, NB, on Sunday, February 19^th, 2023, from 6 to 8pm, where the Funeral Service will be held on Monday morning at 11am. Interment to follow in Lorneville Cemetery at a later date. For those unable to attend in person, the Funeral Service will be livestreamed via the Funeral Home website.

A Royal Canadian Legion Tribute Service will be held on Sunday evening at 7pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Bruce may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, Hillcrest Baptist Church, RedHead Strays or to the charity of the donor’s choice. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.BrenansFH.com.