Carlton Placeway

Dr. Carlton Placeway of Richland, Michigan
December 21, 1932 – September 29, 2018

Dr. Carlton Placeway, age 85, died Saturday September 29, 2018 at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo of complications from congestive heart failure and kidney disease. He was born December 21, 1932 in Imlay City, Michigan to Ione W. McKillen Placeway and Arthur Harold Placeway. He graduated from Imlay City High School and attended University of Michigan where he earned his BS in Chemistry and played clarinet in the Michigan Marching Band. He went on to briefly study at Harvard and completed his PhD at the University of Wisconsin in Organic Chemistry where he achieved total synthesis of ajmalicine.

Carl was on the technical staff of Chemical Abstracts of Columbus, Ohio for 43 years. There he specialized in naming compounds with emphasis on steroids, alkaloids and terpenes. He initially set out to be a medical doctor but met a charismatic chemistry professor who convinced him to follow chemistry where he settled into chemical research. One of his fondest professional memories was hearing and meeting Jonas Edward Saulk, the virologist who invented the cure for polio.

Carl enjoyed playing golf at the Ohio State University golf course where he ribbed his friends over his love for the University of Michigan Wolverines. He like teasing his colleagues and got a kick out of the fact that he, as a die-hard Michigan fan, worked in a business that was essentially on the Ohio State University campus (Go Blue!). He was a member of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Worthington, Ohio and a perfect pitch Alto in the church choir, and through his love of classical music, a life-long member and supporter of the Columbus Symphony. He enjoyed traveling with his family, and playing bridge with many friends in Roswell, Georgia and Richland, Michigan. He was also a committed Democrat and enjoyed spirited political conversations. Ever open-minded, it didn't matter which party you supported as long as you supported and voted for one. He was a selfless, devoted, dedicated and loving family man who will be missed by so many.

Carl was preceded in death by his mother Ione who was a school teacher and his father Arthur, who was a prominent and successful small businessman in Imlay City. Arthur owned ArtPlace Cleaners and a jewelry shop called The Diamond Shoppe where Carl worked during summer's home from school. He is also preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Patricia Marian Yeandle Placeway, and his sisters Donna Jean Placeway Parrot (Joe) and Kay Ann Placeway Norton (Bruce).

Surviving are his step-mother Margaret Dunk Placeway, his brothers Rev. Richard Placeway (Nancy) and Dr. Scott M. Placeway (Darlene), his sister Pamela Placeway Meyer (Eric), as well as his son Dr. Paul W. Placeway (Mary), his daughter Karen Placeway Braddy Lambert (Steve) and his only grandson Zachary Andrew Braddy; many nieces, nephews, cousins and his special friend of Roswell, Georgia and Seal Beach, California, Evelyn Ingram. Many colleagues and friends in Columbus, Ohio, in Roswell, Georgia and Richland, Michigan.

A graveside memorial to celebrate Carl's life will be in Imlay City, Michigan at the Imlay Township Cemetery, 682 N. Fairgrounds Rd. on October 13, 2018 at 3:00 pm. He will be laid to rest with his wife, Patricia in his mother Ione's, McKillen family plot. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to honor his name to the Democratic National Committee, 430 S. Capitol St. SE, Washington, DC 20003 or 877-336-7200 or to the LEAD Fund which benefits underprivileged and minority students attending college through the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan, 200 Fletcher St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 or 800-847-4764.

https://umalumni.force.com/OrderApi__campaign?id=a0l1a000001Ia9uAAC&site=a0Y1a000001Zts9EAC&_ga=2.125234698.1084273619.1538421979-1776697637.1538421979

https://my.democrats.org/page/contribute/help-democrats-fight-back

Arrangements by the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, Richland Chapel. Personal messages from the family may be placed with Farley Estes-Dowdle Funeral Home at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.