Obituary of William W. Carson

William Walter “Bill” Carson, 85, from Pompton Plains (formerly of Roxbury Township), passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 30, 2026, surrounded by his family. Born on August 14, 1941, in Montclair, New Jersey, he was the son of the late Walter J. Carson and Helen B. (Henehan) Carson.

Bill was the beloved husband of the late Eleanor Gail (Wallace) Carson, his childhood sweetheart and wife of 57 years. Together, Bill and Gail built a beautiful life centered around family, friendship, hard work, travel, and plenty of laughter. They moved to Roxbury Township in 1974, where they raised their family of 5 children. Through the years, they also lived in North Carolina and Waretown, New Jersey, before eventually returning to Roxbury to be close to what mattered most to them—their children and grandchildren. 

Bill was the devoted father of Karen Carson-Bode, William W. Carson Jr. (Donna Marie), Michael Carson, Jennifer Perhacs (Anthony), and Amy Steele (Timothy). He was an incredibly proud grandfather to his 14 grandchildren: William III, Anthony Jr., Tommy, Ryan, Kayla, Jay, Nathan, Elizabeth, Madison, Riley, Jack, Sean, Carson, and Cameron, and was blessed to become a great-grandfather to Valentina as well. 

He was the dear brother of Mary Thayne Wells, Beth Larson, and Ann Marie Kuberski, and was predeceased by his brothers Peter Carson, Thomas H. Carson, and John R. Carson. 

A graduate of the Rutgers School of Pharmacy, Bill dedicated his professional life to serving others as a pharmacist. He was the longtime owner of Plains Pharmacy in Budd Lake, a true family business where Gail worked alongside him as bookkeeper for 23 years. Bill was a dedicated pharmacist who took great pride in his work and enjoyed the relationships he built with his customers and staff over the years.

Outside of work, Bill loved traveling and vacationing with family and friends. During their 57 years of marriage, Bill and Gail traveled extensively and shared a love of golf, enjoying many years together both on and off the course. 

But perhaps one of Bill’s greatest gifts was his ability to tell a story. He could entertain a room with stories of his experiences and memories, always delivered with his unmistakable sense of humor and quick wit. Those who knew Bill knew that a good story was rarely a short one—and that was part of what made him Bill. His warmth, humor, and ability to make those around him laugh will be deeply missed.

Bill leaves behind a family who loved him dearly, a lifetime of stories that will undoubtedly continue to be told, and memories that will keep both Bill and Gail close in the hearts of those who knew and loved them.

Bill’s Life Celebration will include visiting on Thursday September 3 from 4:00-8:00 PM at Leber-Lakeside Funeral Home, 150 Landing Road, Landing, NJ. A Funeral Mass will be offered on Friday September 4 10:00 am at St. Therese Church, 151 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ. Bill will be laid to rest beside his beloved wife, Gail, at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, 85 Pleasant Hill Road, Chester, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that memorial donations be made to Camp Nejeda Foundation, a camp dedicated to serving children with Type 1 diabetes. Donations may be sent to P.O. Box 156, Stillwater, NJ 07875 (Attn: Development Office).