Joe Wilbur Carver

Joe Wilbur Carver, 93, of Tarpon Springs, Florida, formerly of Dimmitt, Texas, passed away, Tuesday, October 15, 2019, with his loving daughter at his side.
As a child in Vigo Park TX, he helped his family with their farm and livestock, and his father's blacksmith business. Joe got his first horse when he was 8 years old, and this appreciation for animals followed him throughout his life.  Over the years, he was a trainer and owner of hundreds of race horse, both thoroughbred and quarter horses. For years he was a member of the New Mexico Horseman Association. He was known by many in the horse racing paddocks and stables throughout New Mexico and Texas.
As a teenager he developed a serious bone infection in his arm that required over 20 painful surgeries in an attempt to save his arm. In the early 1940's, he was one of the first to receive penicillin, and he was essentially cured. Joe graduated from Plainview High School in 1945, he attended West Texas State from 1945 to 1946 and graduated from the University of Texas in January of 1949. He received a Bachelors of Science degree in Pharmacy and was in the top 6% of his graduating class. He taught pharmacology in the College of Medicine and conducted pharmaceutical research at the university. He served in the US Army for a short while, before receiving an honorable medical discharge due to the previous damage to his arm from the bone infections.
He started out in retail pharmacy in Galveston TX in the early 1950's.  He had a small shrimp boat which awakened his love for the water and fishing.  This is where he met his wife, Marilyn Dawson. They moved to Plainview, TX to be near his family, and his father passed away in 1962. In 1963, their daughter, Evelyn Ruth was born, and they adopted a son, Bill.  They soon moved to Dimmitt, TX and opened Carver Pharmacy.  He sold his pharmacy in the late 1970’s to a dear friend’s son, Garland Coleman.  Joe’s pharmacy career expanded over the years as he offered consulting services for pharmacy supervision in hospitals and nursing homes, and introduced unit-dosing into several facility pharmacies in the Texas Panhandle. He was honored by the state of Texas for being licensed as a Registered Pharmacist for over 60 years. Also a Registered Pharmacist in Florida for over 40 years. 
He was proud of his Cherokee heritage from his grandmother, Sarah Alabama Palmer, a full blood Cherokee. Joe had a love for Southwestern and Native American Art and enjoyed collecting pieces directly from New Mexico pueblos and the artisans. He enjoyed fishing, boating, cooking-out, and taking care of his cattle, goats and chickens. His last 6 years were spent in Florida with his daughter, son in law and grandchildren.

Graveside service will be held at 11:00 am, on Monday, November 25, at the Rose Hill Cemetery, 1555 County Road 13, Tulia, Texas 79088 

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