Biography:

Kenneth Wesley Carter, a devoted husband and father, retired civil engineer, and St. Louis Cardinals fan passed away on October 6, 2026.  He was better known to his grandchildren simply as “Big Pa”.

Ken was born on November 25, 1950 in Beebe, Arkansas to Wesley and Charlene Carter.  He grew up in Little Rock and was a standout American Legion baseball player. After graduating from Hall High School, he attended the University of Arkansas where he attained a degree in civil engineering, and more importantly married Jane Rossner Schmand.  Following a brief stint at the Arkansas Highway Department, he worked for the Army Corps of Engineers in Little Rock for over 30 years. He began his career as a structural engineer in Design Branch then transitioned and rose through the ranks to Chief of E&C Division where he led a staff of over 100, managing the Little Rock District’s design, construction, and water management divisions. In the office, he was a noted practical joker who might fill one’s umbrella with confetti.

Ken and his wife Jane were avid travelers; after Ken’s retirement they visited Japan, New Zealand, and Iceland among many other destinations. He also loved to take his extended family on summer trips to the beach.
Ken was a unique character with a larger-than-life personality. He was as quick to quote passages of Lonesome Dove as the more pretentious might quote Shakespeare. A yardwork enthusiast, he was keen to pass on his grass-cutting acumen to his sons and spent many afternoons teaching them to pummel a lawn into submission. Woe betide the lawnmower that would not start on the first few pulls as it was apt to receive a few smart applications of the hammer. He was a St. Louis Cardinals fan who loved to see success but also welcomed bad seasons with grim amusement. He possessed encyclopedic knowledge of Arkansas Razorbacks football and attended many games, where he freely offered advice and critique to both coaches and referees (and anyone within earshot).

Ken was an affectionate father. When his children were young, he delighted in winding them up immediately prior to bedtime. At breakfast, he astonished them with displays of precision biscuit-throwing. Despite a wide streak of mischief, he was devoted to his children and was always there to offer encouragement and fatherly wisdom. His life lessons were imparted with equal measures of humor and practicality. To his grandchildren, Big Pa was a teacher, a storyteller, and a source of strength and reassurance. In short, a hero.

To know Ken was to love him. He touched the lives of many with his gentle nature, easygoing wit, and generous spirit. Ken is survived by his wife Jane; his sister Kathy; his children Lauren (Zach), Brad (Molly), and Nolan (Elizabeth); and his grandchildren Jane, Priscilla, Barrett, and Dylan. Our time with him was far too short and he will be missed.

A gathering of family and friends will be held at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Arkansas Children’s Hospital or the American Diabetes Association.