Carl Irvin Webb

Carl Irvin Webb

December 17, 1935 – September 12, 2026

Carl Irvin Webb, 90, of Longwood, Florida, passed away on September 12, 2026, his 67th wedding anniversary, holding the hand of his beloved wife, Sylvia, and his daughters. He was surrounded by his family and embraced in love.

Carl was born December 17, 1935, in the coal-mining town of Belfry Hollow, Kentucky, to Burgess Webb and Nellie Smith Webb. One of twelve children, Carl grew up poor and experienced loss at a very young age when his father died from injuries sustained in the coal mine where he worked. From an early age, Carl knew he did not want to live the life of a coal miner. He was the kind of child who knew that if you had a few cents, you bought baby chicks to raise for eggs rather than spend it on a candy bar. He earned extra money by sweeping and putting coal in the church furnace for the local Baptist church. Pastor Ringo took him under his wing and saw in young Carl a strength of character, faith, and compassion. When Pastor Rolley Proctor Ringo was asked to preach at a church in Indiantown, Florida, he asked Carl’s mom if he could take 12-year-old Carl with him to begin a life in Florida with more opportunities than coal mining. His mom agreed, and this changed Carl’s life.

When he attended school in Indiantown, he met Verna T. Whitfield, the lunch lady at the school in Indiantown, who fattened up skinny Carl and immediately recognized how special and precious Carl was. When her niece, Sylvia, was staying with her, she knew Carl was a man she should meet. Carl, always a hard worker, was driving the school bus at only 15 years old, when he first saw Sylvia when she got on the bus. From that moment Sylvia and Carl were meant to be.

Carl married Sylvia Karen Webb on September 12, 1959, beginning a marriage that would span exactly 67 years. Together, they built a life centered on faith and family and raised two daughters, Julia Kathryn Carpenter and Carla Michelle VanEffen. Carl's family was his greatest joy. He was a proud grandfather to Alexander Carpenter, Victoria VanEffen, William Carpenter, and Mackenzie VanEffen.

Carl attended Stetson University and, in 1959, the same year he married Sylvia, began his career with IBM as a customer service engineer. Over the next 30 years, he developed a reputation for exceptional skill, ingenuity, and determination. He earned thirteen of IBM's highest service awards and became known as the person who could solve problems and repair equipment when others could not.

His troubleshooting ability and creative thinking played an important role in maintaining IBM computer systems critical to rocket launches at Cape Kennedy. Whether the challenge involved sophisticated computer equipment, a car, a clock, or a project at home, Carl possessed an extraordinary ability to understand how things worked—and to figure out how to make them work again.

Carl was also a United States Army veteran who was proud to have served his country.

Faith was at the center of Carl's life. Carl and Sylvia joined First Baptist Church of Winter Park in 1959, the year they were married, and remained active members throughout their lives together. Carl had a deep faith in God, but his faith was expressed through much more than words. He lived it every day through compassion, generosity, kindness, and a gentle spirit that made others feel loved and cared for.

Helping people came naturally to Carl. He offered wise advice, encouragement, friendship, and a helping hand whenever one was needed. Carl did not just have neighbors; he had deep friendships with neighbors. To Sylvia’s little brother, Frankie, who served as ring bearer in their wedding, he was a mentor, a brother, a friend. He was a great listener and made everyone he met feel important.

Carl tithed faithfully to his church and charity organizations such as St. Jude’s Hospital and missions. He was also quietly generous to people who were struggling, often giving anonymously and never seeking recognition for what he had done.

Carl was also a wonderful storyteller with a great sense of humor and a lifelong sense of adventure. He loved taking the back roads just to see what interesting places might be discovered along the way. He loved camping and traveling with his family in their motor home or travel trailer, creating memories on the Blue Ridge Parkway, in Yellowstone and other national parks, and at historic places including Jamestown, Williamsburg, Washington, D.C., Gettysburg, and Monticello.

Among his favorite times was spending time with his children, their spouses, and his grandchildren at a cabin overlooking the mountains each Thanksgiving in Clayton, Georgia when his grandchildren were young. He loved to snuggle by the fireplace, roast marshmellows, fish, throw the football, tell stories and share memories with his family.

At home, Carl enjoyed collecting and repairing clocks, working on cars, fixing things, and completing projects. He was endlessly curious, resourceful, and happiest when there was something to discover, repair, build, or share with someone he loved.

Yet for all that Carl accomplished during his 90 years, the greatest measure of his life can be found in the people he loved.

To Sylvia, his daughters, his grandchildren, and those fortunate enough to know him, Carl was a source of strength, wisdom, laughter, encouragement, and faithful, steady, unconditional love. He was the person you could depend upon and a safe place to fall.

To share memories of Carl or to leave a special message of condolence for his family, please visit our virtual guestbook below.