Carlton Percival Sawin, 88, a longtime resident of Edgewater, Fla., passed away on August 7, 2026, in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. 

Carl was born on February 5, 1938, in Keene, N.H., the son of Percival and Pauline (Talbot) Sawin. He graduated from Thayer High School in Winchester, N.H., in 1956. After graduation he served in the U.S. Navy on submarines as a torpedoman’s mate third class during the Cold War. He was always very proud of his military service. 

He met his beloved wife Jean Tremblay at a New Year’s Eve dance while he was home on leave from the Navy, and they married eight months later on September 5, 1959. In 1970, Carl and Jean moved with their young family from Ashuelot, N.H., to South Glens Falls, N.Y. They lived there until 1986, when they moved to Florida. They were married for 58 wonderful years before Jean passed away in 2017. 

Carl was an automotive parts manager for most of his career. He worked for R&M Supplies in Brattleboro, Vt., and Glens Falls, N.Y., then at Route 9 Motors in South Glens Falls, N.Y. In Florida, he worked for Boston Whaler, and then for many years at the Harley Davidson dealership in New Smyrna Beach. After Carl retired from Harley, he continued to work into his early 80s during Daytona Bike Week and kept in touch with his Harley colleagues. 

He was an avid sports fan and participant all his life. In high school he played baseball, basketball, and soccer. After graduation and into middle age, Carl especially enjoyed participating in various softball leagues and tournaments, and also played basketball, ice hockey, and golf. He liked riding his motorcycle and in later years his bike. During his 40 years in Florida, he became a follower of the Florida State Seminoles. 

Carl served as a volunteer firefighter and fire chief in New Hampshire. He enjoyed country music, and he had a quick wit, liked to joke, and had a sharp sense of humor. Above all, he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. 

Besides his beloved wife Jean and his parents, Carl was predeceased by his brother, Edward Sawin. 

Surviving Carl are his three loving daughters: Karen Plude (Jeff) of Selkirk, N.Y., Pamela Mills (Edmund) of Edgewater, Fla., and Carla Ruff of Daytona Beach, Fla.; six grandchildren: Ronald Gray of Tampa, Fla., Ashley Chandler (Matthew) of Trinity, Fla., Cory DeWitt of Edgewater, Fla., Nicholas Jock of Daytona Beach, Fla., Zachary Jock (Leanne Lemery) of Fort Edward, N.Y., and Elyssa Ruff of Daytona Beach, Fla.; six great-grandchildren: Leahna, Lily, Easton, Avarie, Colbie, and Lei’Yani; two sisters: Margaret McCormack of Peterborough, N.H., and Nancy Michaud of Athol, Mass.; five brothers- and sisters-in-law; and several nieces and nephews. 

Carl’s family would like to thank his daughter Pam and her husband, Ed, for the care and help they gave him after Jean passed away; the staff and his friends at Lexington Place, the assisted-living facility where he had lived for the past year; and Vitas Hospice.

A graveside service and burial with military honors will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, September 11, at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Mims, Fla. Following the service, family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life at a location to be announced. 

Donations in Carl’s memory may be made online at the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Heal Our Patriots or by mail to Samaritan’s Purse, c/o Operation Heal Our Patriots, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.