LEWISTON — Robert Norris “Bob” Carlton, 79, of Canton, died peacefully on Monday, Oct. 11, at the Central Maine Medical Center, with his loving family by his side.

He was born on May 30, 1931, in East Dixfield, a son of the late Clyde and Kathryn (Martin) Carlton. He attended Canton High School, graduating in 1949.

A veteran of the U.S. Army, he served in Korea from 1952 to 1954. On Nov. 22, 1952 he married Joyce Allanach in Rumford. They made their home in Canton in 1957, where he worked as a young man at Norwock Shoe in North Jay and Skowhegan. He then went into the Oxford Paper Company in Rumford, working for 40 years and retiring in 1980.

Bob was a 50-year member of the Whitney Masonic Lodge in Canton and the Blue Lodge in Lewiston and was a lifetime member of the Valley of Portland Masonic Temple.

He and his wife, Joyce, were fortunate to have spent 24 winters in St. Petersburg, Fla., leaving in mid-October and returning home to visit for the holidays. The trips home from Florida in the spring, Bob and Joyce drove separate vehicles, allowing him to sell a “Florida car” when he got home.

Bob enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening, jigsaw puzzles, NASCAR racing, rooting for the Earnhardts, traveling to Loudon, N.H., for the Cup races and especially time spent with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce, of Canton; his sons, Mark Carlton and his wife, Rachel, of North Jay and Dana Carlton of Canton; his siblings, Earle Carlton and his wife, Jean, of St. Petersburg, Fla., Betty Hodge of North Jay and Ronald Carlton and his wife, Bobbie, of Gulfport, Fla.; four grandchildren, Nicole Sylvester and her husband, Michael, of Greene, Joshua, Jacob and Jonathan Carlton, all of North Jay; three great-grandchildren, Kaylee, Jack and Scout Sylvester, all of Greene; a special “son,” Arthur Lavoie of Canton; an aunt, Frances Carlton of Dixfield; and several nieces and nephews.

Words of condolence and tribute may be shared with his family at www.wilesrc.com.