Trooper Carl Malone

 From Carl's Memorial Card:

I'd like the memory of me
   to be a happy one,
I'd like to leave an afterglow
   of smiles when life is done.
I'd like to leave an  echo
   whispering softly down the ways,
of happy times and laughing
   times and bright and sunny days.
I'd like the tears of those
   who grieve to dry before the sun.
Of happy memories that I leave
   when life is done.

Barbara's Eulogy 10/07/04: 

"We met when I was only 15 and Carl 17. From the first time our eyes met we knew we were to be soul mates for life. As soon as I graduated high school we were married. Everyone said it wouldn’t last; we were too young. It took death to separate a love that lasted 3 years of dating and 39 years of marriage. We had our ups and downs, but the ups far outweighed the downs. Our honeymoon was cut short as he got his “Greetings” from Uncle Sam. We were fortunate that during the terrible war of Vietnam, he was stationed stateside and I was able to join him.

We were like we were connected at the hip. Wherever Carl was, Barbara was right there, too. We loved being together. This is why we enjoyed sharing hobbies, just so we could be together.

We bought our first motorcycle when we were stationed in Virginia in 1966: a Honda 305 Dream. We enjoyed that bike until it was stolen 6 months later. How could we know how this Honda motorcycle would be such an influence in our lives so many years later?

Carl liked hunting. I didn’t, so we compromised. He bought me a rifle and handgun and taught me to shoot. We both enjoyed clay target shooting. We have had many boats in our lives as we enjoyed this sport along with water skiing. Then the Chow dog came into our lives with the first home. As I enjoyed obedience training and showing of our wonderful dogs, Carl joined in. The dog shows took us all across the US and Canada. This got us involved with motor homing. What an incredible journey we had seen seeing this beautiful country of ours!

There were several motorcycles in our lives, but this hobby fell to the wayside when boating re-entered. Then in 1998 Carl was diagnosed with prostate cancer.  The Surgeon said that they had gotten it all. We were so joyous! How were we to know that one year later, I would be diagnosed with breast cancer and Carl’s prostate cancer would return? His plant was closing and he was getting an early retirement in October 2000.

In September of 2000 we met a wonderful group of motorcyclists at Middletown Day. Carl wanted to get a Harley upon retirement, but after seeing the Gold Wing, we were hooked. We bought our first Gold Wing and joined F-Troop and found an extended family.  We began an adventure of traveling with this extended family to motorcycle rallies throughout many states.

Carl’s cancer began to advance and treatments were running out. He never once complained about all the let downs, the pain. He considered each day a gift. To cope with all the experimental drug therapy, he changed his CB handle to “LABRAT.” He always had a smile on his face and everyone saw the joy on his face when he rode his Gold Wing. Our families helped us through trying times. Our extended F-troop family was there to help us fulfill a promise we made to each other: To live our lives to the very end and not wait around to die.  Many special friendships and bonds were formed with those friends and family who assisted Carl to treatment and the medical staff that administered treatment. He touched their lives in a very special way and they will greatly miss him.

Carl was incredible. He was strong and tender all rolled into one. He had such a love of life. Though I mourn his passing, I celebrate our life together. It was the most incredible journey I could ever have had. My heart is broken, but life will go on. It will never be the same, but his strength will get me through. I ask all of you not to mourn, but to help me celebrate his life. Someday we will be reunited."