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In memory of

Carl Weaver Lundquist

West Hartford

May 29, 1925 - July 25, 2020

May 29, 1925 - Jul 25, 2020

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Colonel Carl Weaver Lundquist, Army of the United States, was born on May 29, 1925, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. On July 25, 2020, he died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 95. His long life was characterized by duty, service to country, and loving devotion to family. Carl took an active part in all of the actions and passions of his time: he was a soldier, teacher, high school principal, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, Scoutmaster, girls basketball coach, avid coin collector, accomplished ping pong player, sometime lobsterman, proud Democrat, and a force of nature.

In 1943, in quick succession, Carl became an Eagle Scout, graduated from high school, and volunteered for the US Navy, where he served in a SeaBee outfit as a signalman for 30 months in the Pacific theater. He took part in several battles and campaigns, including the invasion of Okinawa on April 1, 1945. In September of that year, Carl witnessed the Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri from the deck of his LST in Tokyo Bay and subsequently was among the first Americans to go ashore in Japan.

On returning home, Carl enrolled at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, under the GI Bill. At the same time, he joined the Pennsylvania National Guard as buck sergeant. In 1950, he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Russian. When his division was activated for the Korean war, Carl received a direct promotion to 2nd Lieutenant and his tank outfit had the good fortune to be sent to Germany to join the occupation forces there.

Before deploying to Germany, Carl met, romanced, and married the love of his life, 1st Lieutenant Bertha McNeil, US Army Nurse Corps. In Germany, they started what would become a family of seven children over the following decade. In 1954, Carl left the active Army and the family settled in Maine where he went into teaching and eventually into school administration. In 1970, he became the principal of Bangor High School where he implemented far-reaching innovations in secondary education.

As an Army Reservist, Carl was recalled to active duty numerous times, most notably for the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 and for Operation New Arrivals, the effort to resettle thousands of refugees from Southeast Asia after the fall of Saigon in 1975. During that operation, Carl commanded a civil affairs battalion at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, which was responsible for logistically supporting and resettling more than 30,000 Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees in the US. He often said this operation was the most memorable and satisfying of his 37 years of military service.

In 1976, Carl left teaching to take a position with the Sinai Field Mission in the Middle East. This was a successful joint operation to keep the peace between Egypt and Israel by monitoring the opposing armies. The family joined him in Tel Aviv, Israel, for several years, and later in Cairo, Egypt, for several more.

Returning to the United States, Carl and Bertha settled in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Not yet ready to retire, Carl pursued a lifelong dream of becoming a lawyer, graduating from the New England School of Law at the age of 64. Later, Carl was actively involved with his community, local politics, and gardening. After many happy years in retirement, Carl and Bertha more recently made their home with their daughter Mary in West Hartford, Connecticut. Carl was predeceased by his wife, Bertha, and his son, Eric. Carl is survived by six of his seven children, nine grandchildren and a great granddaughter, all of whom will miss his sage and loving presence in their lives.

Because of uncertainties surrounding Covid-19, a memorial service is not possible in the immediate future. When it is safe for family and friends to attend, Carl will be laid to rest next to Bertha at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Girl Rising, an international organization whose mission is to advance girls’ education, skills, rights, and opportunities to be leaders.

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