Carleton Prothro of Minden, Louisiana, passed away on May 26, 2024, at the age of 92. Carleton’s cheerfulness, quick wit, knowledge, and true understanding of others have been the source of humor, inspiration, and compassion for so many people whose lives he has touched during his time on this earth. Minden’s 2017 Man of the Year is now entertaining others in heaven with his knowledge about history, his (sometimes off-colored) jokes, and his worldly experiences that so many here on earth will forever miss.
Carleton was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on February 11, 1932. He graduated from C.E. Byrd High School in Shreveport in 1950 and the University of Arkansas in 1954. For Carleton, once a Razorback, always a Razorback. For the rest of his life, he remained a loyal fan through good and bad seasons in all Razorback athletics, but he was especially happy when his team was winning. Carleton furthered his education by receiving his Masters’ degree from the University of Alabama in 1965, and his two college degrees allowed him to follow his life’s passion of educating and guiding high school students in Webster Parish schools from 1958-1992 as a teacher, counselor, assistant principal, and Title 1 Coordinator. Proof of Carleton’s impact on his students lies in the fact that most of his Minden High School classes continually invited him to attend their class reunions as a guest of honor to share their special memories with him. Also, some of his best friends later in life were former students.
Carleton loved America. Choosing to serve his country as a member of the U.S. Army, he attended Officer Basic Training at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, from 1954-1955, and he served as an Army Aviator at Fort Benning, Georgia, from 1956-1958. After an Honorable Discharge from active duty, Carleton remained in the Army Reserves from 1958-1981. He achieved the rank of Colonel in 2006, and from that point on, most of the people who knew him best respectfully called him Colonel Prothro.
Carleton also loved his church, St. John’s Episcopal in Minden, where he has been a member since 1959. He served in almost every capacity at the church, including lector, usher, youth group leader, and vestry member. Carleton was also the ring leader of the Episcopal Men’s Fish Fry when it was an annual event that many men of all denominations enjoyed attending. He rarely said no when asked to do something at St. John’s. The general attitude of St. John’s congregation was that if it was something that met Carleton’s approval, it was good for St. John’s. He will be dearly missed.
Carleton was preceded in death by his parents Claude and Virginia Hunt Prothro, his sister Emily Halsey Van Horn, and his two brothers Captain Randell Hunt Prothro, USN, and Claude B. Prothro, Jr. He is survived by his wife Lois Price Prothro, whom he married on October 12, 1957. He is also survived by their two sons Carleton (Becky) and Lance (Stephanie). Also surviving Carleton are his granddaughter Whitney Fain (Stephen) and his grandson Hunt Prothro (Ivy). He is great grandfather to Anderson, Parker, and Riley Ann Fain.
Services will be held at 2:00 PM June 15 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Minden with a reception to follow in the parish hall.