Carl Eugene “Pete” McCarson, 100, of Hendersonville was reunited with his beloved wife, Gertrude, on the early morning of Tuesday, March 23, 2021. He was born to the late Joseph and Ellen McCarson; he was also predeceased by grandchildren, Chrissandra and Brandon.

World War II veteran Sgt. Carl “Pete” McCarson, who turned 100 years old Dec. 29, 2020, said he lived that long by working hard. “Live right,” he said. “Treat your fellow man as you want to be treated. Have faith in God and in other people. There is too much hate and too much going on in the world today. … Take things as they come.”

McCarson was one of 11 children. Before he was drafted, he was a general laborer in Norfolk, Virginia. After he was discharged, he built houses for 17 years, including Gene’s, and is a master carpenter. McCarson, a Henderson County native, was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942 when he was 21 years old. He served for four and a half years as a gunner on a 90-mm anti-aircraft gun.  Most of McCarson’s service was on Cebu Island in the Philippines. He served there after spending nearly two years in Fiji and Bougainville Island in Papua New Guinea. He helped liberate the Philippines. A prevalent memory McCarson recalled was when he and his comrades came under enemy artillery fire on Bougainville Island. “It just missed us by about 10 feet when it exploded,” he said. “It knocked me over.”

He met and married his wife, Gertrude, shortly after returning home and by the early 1950s they had two sons. Pete and Gertrude were married for almost 60 years before her death.

Left to cherish Carl’s memory are his sons, Eugene McCarson (Susan) and Bruce McCarson, both of Hendersonville; seven grandchildren; Chrissandra (deceased), Shara Jo, Tyler, Brandon (deceased), Michael, Lee and Kylan; nine great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren.

A public graveside service with military honors will be held at 1pm at Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery in Etowah on Friday, March 26, 2021, with Rev. Eddie Conard officiating. Prior to the graveside service, the family will be present for a visitation at the Kirby Memorial Chapel of Shuler Funeral Home. All Covid-19 protocol will remain in place; please wear a mask and politely social distance.