Albert Earl Carter's Obituary
Albert Earl Carter II, nicknamed Buddy by his parents Albert D Carter and Zola Eldora Anderson Carter departed mortality on 1/27/23 due to complications of Parkinson's and dementia. He was 81. He was born in a hospital in Pocatello, ID because as he always said “he wanted to be by his mommy.” Al had a dry sense of humor and loved to tell jokes. He was quick witted and came up with many play on words. He loved to make people laugh and like his mother, told great stories.
He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather; his careers included author, lecturer, wrestler, trampolinist, gymnast, entrepreneur, inventor and businessman. He lit up in front of an audience; in high school as a rodeo clown in Columbia Falls, Montana, a uni-cyclist, a trampolinist (including the role of clown), a gymnast (later forming the Gymnastics Fantastics performing group).
A mentor who had a huge impact on Al's direction in life was his coach Bill Stallings of Columbia Falls High School, who encouraged Al to go out for wrestling; he told Al that if he did, the coach would teach him trampolining. Al had always dreamed about being able to fly and this was his ticket to flying high. Al excelled and lettered in all three sports plus played football. He earned a full scholarship in wrestling to Oklahoma State University and after his mission to the Great Lakes Mission from 1961-63, he continued wrestling at the University of Utah. He qualified twice for Olympic competition in wrestling but was disqualified because of injuries.
At age 35, Al began lecturing around the US and overseas in Australia, Hong Kong and the Philippines about the health benefits of Rebound Exercise (he had been introduced to jumping on a mini-trampoline and was unconvinced it had the same benefits as trampoline jumping, so he did his own research and became convinced of the merits of Rebound Exercise-a term he coined). He is the founder and pioneer of the Rebound Exercise Industry and wrote books such as Rebound to Better Health in 1978 and subsequent book was the Miracles of Rebound Exercise in 1979. He also wrote The Cancer Answer in 1988 and developed a Certified Reboundologist course. Al believed that opposition in all things was a true and important principle in life. So opposing gravity was what made Rebound Exercise so effective. Before all of this, Al took his family on a trampoline performing tour of the US in 1975. He along with his then 10 year old daughter Wendie and 6 year old son, Darren, performed in schools through the US for 9 months. This tour was a huge highlight in Al's life and he always had fond memories of this time with his family.
In addition to opposing gravity, Al felt strongly about overcoming obstacles and challenges. He was a master at taking lemons and turning them into lemonade. He took a very challenging situation and found joy in looking at the bright side and found pleasure in simple things. He spent many years developing the Quarter fold ReboundAIR, which he was very proud of. He was also extremely proud of his three children and all of their accomplishments and loved to brag about them to friends and associates. He loved life and life loved him back. He was hardworking and industrious throughout his life, starting early as a newspaper boy in Burley, Idaho and a farmhand in Columbia Falls, Montana, which added the benefit of riding the horses.
Al was very strong and athletic; throughout his life he demonstrated that strength by doing 100- 1 arm push-ups. He also loved snow skiing, boating, sail-boating, hiking, climbing mountains and trees and three wheeling; he loved motorcycles and flew small planes for a number of years. In addition to sports, he loved nature, especially rocks, he was very interested in the universe and how magnificent it is; he loved animals, including his pet blue and gold macaw named Maui, many dogs, cats, rabbits, and horses.
Throughout his life's journey Al always had faith in Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. He spoke of his belief in guardian angels. One incident happened when he and his siblings were by a canal and a huge storm was brewing in Burley, Idaho. His mother was prompted to “go and get your children”. Having slept in a barn loft during one summer; one night a voice told him to go in the house; a while later the barn caught on fire and burned to the ground.
Al served an honorable mission in the Great Lakes Mission from 1961-63. He always had many stories about the amazing people he met in Indiana and Ohio and loved telling their conversion stories.
Al served in many callings including Scout Master, gospel doctrine teacher, member of a bishopric and ward clerk. His favorite calling was as an ordinance worker in the Provo temple.
Al was preceded in death by his parents Albert D Carter, WW11 veteran and banker in 1962 and his mother Zola Eldora Anderson, the story lady (radio program in Burley and Columbia Falls) in 1985 and his older sister, Zola Edith Saunders in 2004.As well as his two twin boys, Ryan and Bryan, who were born in 1971.
He is survived by his sisters Charlotte (Tom) Spencer and Melanie (Dan) McKinlay, his wife Diane Jean Newsom Carter (they married on April 6, 1989), daughter Wendie Louise (Ted) Edwards, son Darren Albert Carter, daughter Melynda Renee (Troy) Williams, daughter Julie Sheree (Jacob) Wilkerson, son David Joseph Lind, and son Joel Christopher (Chelsea) Lind; 25 wonderful grandchildren and many precious great grandchildren (25 and counting)!
The family wishes to thank the Beehive Homes of Provo owner Sam Eyre and wonderful staff as well as the Enhabit Hospice staff who so lovingly and expertly cared for Al the last 2-1/2 months of his life. They saw how Al even with dementia wanted to 'hold meetings,' show his strength by lifting a resident while inside her wheelchair, race down the halls in his wheelchair using his feet, trying to dance with his wife Diane although the staff was trying to keep him in his wheelchair to avoid more falls. Al really loved life, was a fighter and tried to be helpful to others, right until the end. He is now free of the physical and mental constraints and can fly with the eagles. The song “the wind beneath my wings,” describes how Diane and Al were to each other, the wind beneath each others wings.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 11th, a viewing from 9:30-10:30 am and the funeral service at 11:00 am. Location; The Oak Hills Stake Center, 925 N. Temple View Drive. Services provided by Premier Funeral Services.
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