Carleton Bowe Speed

Carleton Bowe Speed passed away on Thursday, April 18, 2024, with his sister Sharman Speed by his side.

Carleton was born in Burnet, Texas on May 31, 1948. He was later adopted by Marvolene Bowe Speed and Carleton D. Speed, Jr. from Edna Gladney Home in Waco, Texas and brought to Houston, Texas to live. 

Carleton grew up loving people, animals, music, and traveling. His travels took him all over the United States, including Hawaii, and also to Mexico, Canada and Europe. At the age of twelve, he and his family took a trip to Europe. He traveled to the Netherlands, France, Belgium and Switzerland. While in Belgium, he visited his mother’s cousins in the town of Dînant. Because his parents were going to a conference in Austria and then on to the Soviet Union, he and his sister, Sharman, were left in Murren, Switzerland with a family who ran a kinderheim. There were no automobiles in the town so, they walked everywhere even to a place where cheese was made in the woods! Upon returning to the United States, Carleton had many more travel experiences with his family and a local travel group where he resided. His favorite memory while traveling in Hawaii was taking a helicopter ride over one of the active volcanoes. 

Carleton overcame many adversities in his life and was a fighter. He had many friends and family members who loved him and cared about his welfare. 

Carleton is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his sister Sharman Speed and cousins: Bobbie Embrey, Jim Gill, Dr. Mary Gill Bankhead, Mike Moon, Karol Vaughn Brumit, Susan Vaughn Robinett, Betty Ross Flemming, Charlene Grimes, Mark Grimes, Jodi Grimes Kaib and their families. 

A Celebration of Life for Carleton will be held at the Bradshaw-Carter Funeral Home, 1734 West Alabama Street, Houston, Texas 77098 on Saturday May 18, 2024, from two until five o’clock in the afternoon with the service starting three o’clock.

In lieu of customary remembrances, please make consider a contribution in Carleton’s a memory to: Friends For Life Animal Shelter, 107 East 22nd Street, Houston, Texas 77008 (www.Friends4Life.org)