Roy Joseph Carrow, Jr.

Retired Lt. Col. Roy Joseph “Joe” Carrow, Jr. passed away on Saturday, July 20, 2024 with his family by his side. Joe was at the golden age of 90 and as he always stated, “it’s just the rusting years”. Joe was born in Farmington, MO on November 24, 1933 to Roy S. Carrow and Fadalias Grief Carrow. He grew up in Alton, IL graduating from Marquette High School in 1951. He worked at various jobs while in school including a paper route, worked summers at a lumber yard and evenings at a movie theatre.

Joe enlisted in the Air Force in October 1952 at the age of 18 where he went through Basic Training at Lackland AFC, TX. He transferred to Keesler AFB, MS for Airborne Radio Operators course and while attending he applied and was accepted in the Aviation Cadet Program and entered Undergraduate Navigator Training in May, 1953. After receiving his Navigator Wings and commission in July 1954 as a 2nd Lt. Joe entered Pilot training in September 1957 and received instruction in T-34, T-28 and
T-33 aircraft. He received his pilot rating on October 1958. His first assignment was in F86 aircraft but this aircraft was phased out of the Active Air Force so in September of 1959 he transferred to Vance AFB, OK as a flight instructor for Undergraduate Pilot Training. While at Vance, he instructed in T37 and T33 aircraft until May 1963.

He was transferred to Yokota AFB, Japan where his career in the B-57 aircraft began. Joe received orders to fly missions over Vietnam and the twelve members of the 4758th DSES squadron returned after accumulating approximately 1300 missions for well over 2400 hours of flying time. Most of the flying time was over hostile forces. The twelve members accumulated an impressive list of decorations which included a total of 12 Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals, two with Bronze Battle Stars, 51 Air Medals, two Air Force Commendation Medals, two distinguished flying crosses, three outstanding unit citations and one Presidential Unit Citation.

Joe returned back to the States and the family moved to El Paso, TX where Joe instructed for 4 years at the bases in El Paso, TX and then Alamogordo, NM before joining the Kansas Air National Guard in June 1968.

Joe had close to 7000 hours of flying and instruction time. He retired from Kansas Air National Guard in Feb. 1979.

Joe married Yvonne Craig on February 19, 1955, in St. Louis, MO. He always said he had an “arranged marriage” thanks to his dad. Joe’s dad told him next time he was home on leave, he needed to take Yvonne out, as she turned out very pretty. Must have been love at first site!! Joe and Yvonne enjoyed 65 years of marriage together; before her passing in April of 2020.

During Joe’s career in the Air Force, the family traveled and lived in various states across the U.S. and even in Japan for a year. Each of his children being born in a different state. Joe always said not many people have been as high as 55,000 feet or as low as 50 feet while flying his B57. He also said his brothers and sisters had great careers but Joe had more fun with his.

While serving with the Kansas Air National Guard – Koyotes; Joe and Yvonne along with the Blick’s and Sherman’s founded the now known, P.A.C.K. (Past and Current Koyotes) group in 1981. This group still meets on a yearly basis to catch up with the old and new guard people. Dad always believed in treating everyone the same in the military, National Guard and anyone else he met. That was how and why he was respected and remembered by everyone he served with, his friends and family.

Joe and Yvonne formed numerous life-long friendships all over the United States while in the service and also in their travels after retirement. During their retirement years, they were able to travel to Europe, Australia, and Alaska. The Carrow clan (which included his brothers and sisters and their families) had yearly gatherings at Lake of the Ozarks. Later Joe and Yvonne would decide to spend their winters first at Mustang Island and eventually many years in South Padre, TX.

Joe loved to play golf and wanted to badly to get out one more time on the golf course before he passed but it just didn’t work out. His golfing buddies made yearly trips to the Lake of the Ozarks to play a several rounds of golf in 3-4 days. His putts were insane and everyone always gave him a hard time. Along with Joe’s best friends, Dave Baker, Roger Wilson and Walt Hefner, the four of them played together several times a week up until Dave and Joe’s health declined this year.

Joe loved to watch golf and westerns on TV. He even enlightened the CNA, Amanda on them and now she is hooked. One western in particular was Cheyenne, staring Clint Walker. Although, Clint wasn’t born in Alton, he moved there and went to the same school as dad and even dated a cousin of dads!!! He always reminded everyone of that when the show came on.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Yvonne Craig Carrow; his parents Roy J. & Fadalias Grief Carrow; siblings Dr. James Carrow, Catherine Carrow, and Dr. Tom Carrow; brother-in-law and his wife, Don and Jackie Craig. Joe is survived by his sister, Mary Twitty, Jacksonville, IL; Sister-in-laws Carolyn Carrow and Maggie Carrow, Godfrey, IL; children - Kathy (Mark) Johnson, Hoyt, KS, Tony (Cindy) Carrow, Omaha, NE and Robert (Judy) Carrow, Topeka, KS; 8 grandchildren, Kristina Matsapto (Joe), Blake Johnson (Melissa), Dr. Michele North (Adam), Mandy Heilig (Harold), Dr. Erin Kastl (Jeff), Melissa Johanne,; Mike Johannes (Joanna) and Jeremy Johannes; 22 great grandchildren and 1 great-great granddaughter. He was proud to tell everyone he had 5 generations in the family!

The family would like to thank the Doctors and nurses at Stormont Vail North’s Fielding Office; Midland Home Health; and Midland Hospice for their compassionate care and help during Dad’s illness. Also, we want to thank Amanda, from Visiting Angels, for her care, sense of humor and prayers for dad during his final weeks.

Donations may be made to Ret. Lt. Col. Roy “Joe” Carrow, Jr. Memorial c/o Kansas National Guard Museum,
125 SE Airport E. Drive,Topeka, KS 66619 or to Roy “Joe” Carrow, Jr. Memorial, c/o Mother Teresa Catholic Church,2014 NW 46th St.,Topeka, KS. 66618.