He was born to Dewey Robert Carlin and Mayme Howell Carlin, on January 30, 1938, in Beaumont, TX where he remained throughout his school years. John graduated from South Park High School and was a proud member of the Greenie Class of 1956. He then attended Lamar University on a track scholarship, where he graduated with his Bachelor’s degree. He went on to earn his Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Stephen F. Austin.
John served 6 years in the Army National Guard at Ft. Sill in Lawton, OK. Following his honorable service to his country, John settled into a lifetime career of teaching. John was a math teacher, coach, and bus driver at several schools throughout Beaumont Independent School District for 36 years, prior to his retirement in 1998.
In addition to teaching, John remained busy with his other hobbies. He was very proud of his extensive commemorative Coke bottle collection, and regularly set up a booth at 1st Monday Canton Trade Days for many years selling and trading his bottles. He also enjoyed traveling and following carnivals around the country to play “Pick up the Bottle.” John also greatly enjoyed spending time in Oklahoma with his twin brother, Gordon out on Lake Eufaula. They were avid fishermen and would be out at all hours running the trot lines. Their trophy catches were well documented on the walls at Mark’s Country Store. When they weren’t busy trolling for sand bass, they were teaching the kids to ski on the old, wooden red skis or trying to throw them off the tube.
John was proceeded in death by his parents, Dewey and Mayme Carlin, identical twin brother, Gordon Earl Carlin, Sr., and daughter, Elizabeth Lorene Roberts Bates. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Barbara Carlin, daughter, Sherry Carlin Skinner of Moore, OK, and son, Jerry Roberts and wife, Valerie Breaux of Beaumont, TX. Grandchildren, Chelsea Bates-Sweet and husband, Jesse Sweet of Magnolia, Arkansas, Taylor Roberts and fiancé, Austin Hodgkins, Ryan Roberts, and Ethan Sanchez, all of Beaumont, TX, and Austin, Tyler, and Hannah Skinner, all of Moore, OK. Great Grandchildren, Dawson and Dalton Sweet, and Hudson and Sage Hodgkins. John is also survived by his older brother, Robert Carlin, and wife, Billie Hayes Carlin of Friendswood, TX, as well numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
The family wishes to sincerely thank the staff at Amedisys Hospice and the nurses at Beaumont Healthcare Center for their care and compassion.
A visitation for John will be held Tuesday, February 1, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, 4955 Pine Street, Beaumont, Texas 77703. A celebration of life will occur Wednesday, February 2, 2022 at 10:00 AM at Forest Lawn Funeral Home.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.forestlawnmpfh.com for the Carlin family.
