Robert Allen Carson

Robert “Bob” Carson passed away peacefully at home on his farm in Aldie, Virginia, on December 12, 2024, after a long illness. He is survived by his beloved wife, Ruthann (known to friends and family as Rae), his daughter Maureen Metcalf (Mike Davis), his son Eric (Donna), his stepdaughter Stephanie Gorman (John), his grandchildren Aspen, Jessica, Jake, Gabby, and Connor, and his sister Carole Mattler (Larry). He was predeceased by his parents, Howard Vincent Carson and Mary Katherine Elizabeth Yeakley Carson, both of Logansport, Indiana.

His upbringing on a farm in Indiana instilled a lifelong work ethic. At 16, he left for Purdue University, where he was commissioned into the Army Reserves and designated a Distinguished Military Graduate. He married Janet Kaetzer of South Bend, Indiana, in 1958. After two years working for Brookside Research Labs, he pursued his plan to become a Regular Army officer.

Bob's Regular Army career included early assignments to Artillery Battalions in Munich, Germany, where his daughter Maureen was born in 1963. Returning stateside, he transferred to Military Intelligence with a first tour in South Bend, Indiana, where his son Eric was born in 1965. Bob then received orders for Vietnam at the height of the war as an Intelligence Advisor to two ARVN Divisions. After a year, he returned to the US. He moved his family from Indiana to Virginia, where he was assigned to the Counterintelligence Division of the Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon. In 1971, he returned to Vietnam at a field station in Phu Bai. Back in the US, he was assigned to the Defense Nuclear Agency for three years and then to the Pentagon. He worked in the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, as a HUMINT officer and then Budget Officer for all of Army Intelligence. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1980 with many commendations, awards, and medals, including the Bronze Star, Air Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, and multiple Legion of Merit awards. One of his fellow officers called him the "smartest officer he had ever known."

After his military career, Bob continued working in similar fields for several government contractors while developing his business, JRC Associates. Initially an income tax preparation business, JRC grew to include hiring CPAs and data entry personnel. It incorporated accounting and proposal writing for companies learning to do business with the government.

During this time, his marriage to Janet Kaetzer ended in divorce. In 1984, he met Rae Carson at a Parents Without Partners meeting that he hosted. They married in 1986. Their mutual interests meshed closely; they both worked in intelligence, had solid Midwestern values, enjoyed similar music, were avid readers and serious Redskins football fans, and had an abiding love for farm life. They purchased a rundown equestrian facility, restored it to full vitality and lived for 36 years in their cherished "House Above The Barn." Bob and Rae were happy working there together, enjoying the physical activity outdoors, the lovely views toward the mountains, raising lively foals who grew into beautiful horses, and sharing it all with kids, grandkids, and friends.

Bob particularly enjoyed any farm work that included tractors or chainsaws, as well as fine woodworking, and genealogy research. He and Rae took many trips to gather information about his ancestors, and he spent countless hours in the National Archives. When a few days were available between the demands of work and the farm, they enjoyed brief trips around the scenic Virginia countryside and even took a few Caribbean cruises. Bob's life was further enriched by the arrival of his first Welsh Corgi puppy, Daisy, who never left his side for eleven years. After Daisy's passing, Penny, the second Welsh Corgi puppy, came to rescue him.

As the demands of running the farm began to weigh heavily on Bob, they sold the farm in 2017. Bob's negotiating talents were tested one more time to acquire a beautiful piece of land and have a perfect retirement home built upon it, with room for a few retired horses and pastoral views from every window.

While Bob's outward life became less active, he continued to enjoy his life with his dearly loved wife, Rae, who was by his side at every step in his journey. As his reading ability diminished, he loved watching videos of Irish music and old detective shows with her. Their marriage was his greatest joy in life. He considered himself amazingly fortunate to have found the love of his life and a companion to enjoy life's ups and downs.

Bob quietly passed from this life just as he wanted, with family around him and Penny by his side in his own home. His final resting spot will be Arlington National Cemetery.

Rather than flowers, consider donating in Bob's name to one of his favorite charities: Disabled American Veterans (www.dav.org) or Fisher House Foundation (www.fisherhouse.org) which offers houses free of charge to military families visiting their service members at the various military and VA hospitals. Both are highly rated.

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