Obituary For Carlton Dillard Estes
May 30, 1939 - January 19, 2022


Carlton Dillard Estes, 82, passed away on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at UNC Rockingham Health Care Rehab Center in Eden, NCCarlton was born in Eden (Draper) to the late John Earlie Estes and Lila Hardiman Estes.
A funeral service will be held Tuesday, January 25th, 2022 at 2pm at Fair Funeral Home in Eden, NC, with burial to follow at Ridgeview Cemetery in Eden. A visitation will be held for 1 hour prior to the service.
He graduated from Ruffin High School in 1958 as the president of his senior class. After graduation, he worked for Ivie Tire Company in Eden until he was drafted into the U. S. Army where he served as a military police at  Fort Bragg, NC  for 2 years.  Upon returning to Eden, he went to work at DuPont in Martinsville, VA and retired after 30 years.  During all these years, he was attending Immanuel Friends Church.
He played baseball in high school and then both church league and commercial league until he was 64 and only stopped then because the teams folded.  He then started coaching his grandsons and other youth in softball and football for the Draper Recreation Department.
He was an avid car racing fan, both NASCAR and short track racing.  He was one of the mechanics and pit crew members for his friend Jimmy Griffin.  He and his brother and nephews would go to the February Daytona race each year.
He was a UNC Tarheel fan, Atlanta Braves fan, and loved country music and bluegrass music.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Cecil Estes, Ralph Estes, Calvin Estes and Doug Estes, sisters Christine Chrismon, Inez Pegram, Bobbie Thornton, Edna Alderman, Betty Ann Estes, Edith Chilton and Delores Estes.
He is survived by wife of 59 years Janice Wray Estes; daughters, Angela Estes and Carla Estes Porter; grandson Brian Porter and step-grandsons Chris and Travis Porter; numerous nieces and nephews who lovingly called him Uncle Cottie.
The family would like to thank all the staff of UNC Rockingham Health Care and UNC Rockingham Rehab and especially Dr Xaji Hasanaj for his many years of excellent care and friendship.
Thanks to all the friends and families who visited, prayed and called during his time in rehab.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests all memorial contributions be made to Draper Volunteer Fire Department at 213 Main Street, Eden NC 27288.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.fairfuneralhome.com.