Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

SFC (Ret) Seth D. “Donny” Carawan

Seth D. “Donny” Carawan, 75, of 5727 Newlands Road, Columbia, and formerly of Engelhard, died peacefully on Sunday, March 5, 2023, together with his wife, daughter, and two granddaughters in Rocky Mount.

Visitation services will be held Saturday, March 11, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Bryan Funeral Service in Swan Quarter. Funeral services will be held Sunday, March 12, 2 p.m., at Engelhard Baptist Church in Engelhard with Rev. George Merrick officiating. A graveside service with full Military Honors will follow at the family plot at Soule Cemetery in Swan Quarter with Rev. Joe Stuter officiating.

Pallbearers will be Danny Carawan, Joshua Carawan, Daniel Spruill, Dakota Schaden, Lucas Schaden and SFC (Ret) Glenn Sanford. Honorary pall bearers will be SFC (Ret) Buzz Baker and MSG (Ret) Roberta Lockwood.

Donny was born in Beaufort County on May 8, 1947, the son of the late Maxwell Mannen and Verna (Gibbs) Carawan. He graduated from Mattamuskeet High School in 1965.

He began his U.S. Army career as a Combat Engineer from 1965-1967, serving one tour in Vietnam.

He returned to the U.S. Army in 1974 until his retirement in 1992. During his 22 years of military service, he proudly served as: Heavy Weapons Specialist; Infantry Indirect Fire Crewman (Mortars); Instructor for Mortar Training; Professional Leadership Development Course Instructor at the NCO Academy (Baumholder, Germany); U.S. Army Recruiter; NCO in charge of the Basic Rifle Marksmanship Night Fire Range; and, a Drill Sergeant for three years on Tank Hill of which he was most proud.

In 1996, Donny returned home to Engelhard where he was employed with the Hyde Correctional Institute as a Correctional Training Specialist until his stroke in July, 2022. During his 26 years employed at the prison, he not only trained many people in different job-related areas, but he also taught Defensive Tactics Certification and Firearms Certification at Beaufort County Community College.

He had been a former member of the Engelhard Rotary Club and the Engelhard Fire Department.

He married the former Sandra Storrs on September 19, 1987 who survives. He is also survived by his daughters, Hope O’Neal of Macon, GA and Deborah Spruill of Columbia; two brothers, Earl Lenew Carawan of Fairfield and Danny Michael Carawan of Engelhard; one sister, Deborah Kaye Bynum of Maysville; grandchildren Savannah Reese Spruill, Aubrey Wren Spruill, Nichole Wood, Christina Wood, Christopher Wood, Nicholas Wood and several nieces and nephews.

Donny was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers John Alvin Carawan, Maxwell Hollowell Carawan, Leland Wayne Carawan, Chester Randolph Combs, Lester Andrew Combs, Denny Max Carawan, and Davy James (Mole) Carawan.

Donny not only loved Hyde County, but he loved the people there. He was a friend to many.

Flowers are welcomed. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Engelhard Baptist Church, c/o Judy Tomlinson, treasurer, P. O. Box 202, Engelhard, NC 27824 or the North Carolina Chapter of Combat Warriors c/o of Bill Warren at Bill.warren@combatwarriors.org.

Arrangements are under the direction and care of Bryan Funeral Service.