Carleton Whittemore Sprague, Sr.

Born April 28, 1925 in Milton, Massachusetts, Carleton attended Major Howard Beal High School in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts.  Due to his small stature, like that of a race-horse jockey, and his powerful voice, Carl was recruited as the coxswain for the high school crew team. The team went on to win four national championships. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1943 as a Naval Aviation Cadet and then transitioned to the U.S. Naval Reserve after WW II. Carleton graduated from the University of Vermont with an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Carl moved to Albuquerque, NM where he met Lois Dose, a registered nurse, and they were married July 10, 1953. Carl worked for Sandia National Labs with an expertise in explosives and specialized missile warhead development. He then worked for several years in the same line of work with EG&G. One of his proud accomplishments was the design and award of a patent for the Rolamite postal scale.

He fostered the importance of family with regular reunion trips to South Dakota, Vermont and New Jersey as his kids were growing up.

He learned to ski the mountains of Vermont and taught his children, at early ages, in the mountains of New Mexico. He loved to explore the ghost towns of New Mexico and instilled a love for the outdoors in each of his four children. Carl’s parents, Duane and Margaret, developed a lasting friendship with the Crespin family of Santa Domingo pueblo in the 1950’s and Carl continued the valued relationship with frequent visits to the pueblo with his family.

After retirement, Carl and Lois traveled the country and then settled in Port Isabel, Tx, where he enjoyed golfing, playing the harmonica, dancing with Lois, and socializing with their many friends.

Carl was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 59 years, Lois, his brother, Duane, sister, Jean, and children, Carleton, Jr., and Margaret (Margo).

He is survived by sons, Richard Sprague and fiancée, Lauren, of Foster City, CA. and David Sprague and wife, Debra, of Albuquerque, NM, sister, Linda Bowker and husband, John, of Sun City, Florida, nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Carleton died peacefully in his sleep August 3, 2020 in Albuquerque, NM

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Alzheimer’s Association or Arthritis Foundation.

https://www.alz.org/about

 https://www.arthritis.org/donate

To view information or leave a condolence please visit www.danielsfuneral.com  
Daniels Family Funeral Services
7601 Wyoming Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
505-821-0010