Dr. Carl Augustus Furr, Jr., age 88, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, March 12, at their home in Taylor Glen. He was doing what he loved most – watching his beloved Tar Heels play ball.
The family is planning a service to celebrate his life at 1:30 PM on Saturday, March 19, at Community Church of Mt. Pleasant with Pastor David Snow presiding. The family will greet friends following the service.
Carl lived in Concord most of his life, except for treasured years spent in Chapel Hill where he graduated from UNC with degrees in Undergraduate Studies, his Medical Degree, and completed his Residency in OB-GYN. He went on to serve his country in a unique position as a Navy Physician that was deployed with the Marines in Okinawa, Japan. One of his greatest passions was to regale his family with stories of rare things he saw, as well as overcoming countless illnesses during his travels. During his last assignment, Carl returned to the homeland in Los Angeles where he received the biggest honor of his military career – meeting his future wife, Sharon.
He established his practice in Concord in 1965 and retired in 1998. During those years, he took excellent care of innumerable patients and delivered thousands of babies, with most of those babies being born to the sound of Carolina Tar Heel ballgames playing in the background. He was a favorite of the Cabarrus Memorial Hospital Nurses and each of them will tell you the same thing – they knew when he entered the hallowed halls of the hospital by the preceding fragrance of his unmistakable Polo cologne.
Carl’s two greatest loves, his family and his alma mater, were joined as each of his children attended his beloved Chapel Hill. His passion for the Carolina Tarheels was thoroughly instilled in every member of his family, and anyone who called the Furr household may likely have been greeted by the sounds of Woody Durham’s personally recorded message on the answering machine. Carl’s wardrobe often consisted of only two colors: Carolina Blue, and Navy Carolina Blue. His retirement was filled with tailgate lunches, crisp fall weather games, sunsets in Kenan Stadium’s Blue Zone, the cheering crowds of the Dean Dome, and the full ESPN college sports package. If you were conversing with Carl, the first words you likely exchanged were, “Go Heels!”
He is survived by his cherished wife of 60 years, Sharon, his 3 children and 6 grandchildren as follows: Amy, her husband, David Coltrane, their children; Jake and Hannah, Max and Lauren, and Kate…. Cathy, her husband, Barry Richards, and their son, Charlie…. Carl A. Furr III, his wife Jennifer, their daughters, Addy, Logan and her boyfriend Matt (whom her Grandpa adored). And of course, his treasured cat, Mack Brown.
In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the UNC Rams Club, PO Box 2446 Chapel Hill, NC 27515, Community Church of Mt. Pleasant, 8760 E. Franklin St., Mt. Pleasant, NC 28124 or the charity of your choice.
PS: UNC won Carl’s last game.
Condolences may be sent to www.wilkinsonfuneralhome.com
Wilkinson Funeral Home is assisting the Furr family.