ELKHART -- Carlos Wilburn Treadway, 79, of Elkhart, died at 3:15 p.m. Friday (March 27, 2009) at his residence.

He was born March 28, 1929, in Westerly, W.Va., to Milton G. Treadway and Bessie G. Burgess. On Feb. 16, 1952, he married Violet Jeffers in Oak Hill, W.Va.

She survives along with four sons, L. Stanley (Jackie) Treadway of Elkhart, H. Vincent (Faith) Treadway of Broomail, Pa., Russell B. (JoAnne) Treadway of Holly Hill, Fla., and the Rev. Keith J. (Dawn) Treadway of Kokomo; two brothers, C. James Treadway of Erwin, N.C. and Marion B. Treadway of New Castle, Del.; two sisters, Erdine (Clyde) Smith of Copperas Cove, Texas and Helen (Eddie) Richards of Pratt, W.Va.; four grandsons; four granddaughters; and one great-grandson.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Milton G. Treadway Jr.; and a sister, Reba Martarella.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Elkhart, 53953 C.R. 17. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Pastor John Blodgett of the church and Mr. Treadway's son, Keith, will officiate. Burial will follow at Prairie Street Cemetery.

Mr. Treadway was involved in ministries for the deaf for over 35 years and in 1986 he became a member of the First Baptist Church of Elkhart where he continued his ministry to the deaf and taught sign language. He also volunteered as a Red Coat at Elkhart General Hospital and with Ribbon of Hope Ministries where he would spend hours playing his harmonica for the cancer patients of the hospital.

He served in both the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. While in the Army he was a guard for the prisoners who were on trial at Nuremberg, Germany. In the Navy he served as a quartermaster and signalman aboard the U.S.S. Missouri during the Korean War. His love for his God, his Country and his family remained steadfast throughout the remainder of his life.

Memorials may be given to the First Baptist Church of Elkhart or to Gideon's International. Online condolences may be sent at www.billingsfuneralhome.com.