Judge Charles Dana Carver passed away Saturday, March 23 after a long, courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Jackson, Kentucky, on December 13, 1943, to Russell and Mary Ann Carver. He moved to Hope, Arkansas at an early age, where he graduated from Hope High School in 1962 and earned a golf scholarship to Ouachita Baptist University where he graduated with a B.A. degree in 1966. While at Ouachita, he was captain of the golf and debate teams. He was also a member of the Blue Key National Honor Fraternity. After college he attended law school at South Texas College of Law in Houston graduating in August of 1971 with a degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence. He passed the bar in October of 1971 and entered into private practice with his uncle, Fred A. Carver. In 1981, he went to work at the law firm of Provost & Umphrey, eventually becoming a partner.
Judge Carver was Board Certified in Criminal Law and Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He was also Board Certified in Criminal Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Judge Carver was licensed to practice before the 5th Circuit of Appeals in New Orleans and the United States Supreme Court. Judge Carver gave oral arguments before the 5th Circuit in a death penalty case and submitted written briefs to the United States Supreme Court on the same death penalty case.
He was elected in 1994 to the Criminal District Court and was sworn in as Judge of that court of January, 1995. He was re-elected in 1998 and in 2002. Judge Carver was in the first graduating class of the College of Judicial Studies. He retired from the bench in 2006.
Judge Carver was a member of the Texas Bar Association, the Jefferson County Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Texas Criminal Defense Association, the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialist, Texas Association of Board Certified Specialist in Criminal Law, College of the State Bar of Texas and was a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.
During his retirement, Judge Carver enjoyed watching and playing golf. He also became an avid coin collector. His favorite times were those spent with his family and grandchildren.
He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Ric and Shannon Carver of Groves; grandchildren, Stephanie Carver of Nederland; and Mason Carver of Groves; brothers, Fred Louis Carver of Fort Thomas, Kentucky; and Melvin Carver of Beaumont; former wife, Jeane Rudd and her husband, Don of Port Neches; and Godson, Jason Snell and his wife, Melissa of Austin.
Judge Carver was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Frank.
In lieu of flowers, Judge Carver wished for donations to be made to his favorite charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.
Judge Carver’s memorial service will be 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 27, 2013, at First Baptist Church, 1900 Magnolia Avenue, Port Neches, under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont.
