POULSBO, WASH.—John Caldwell, a veteran of the carpet industry for more than four decades, passed away here March 29, following a bout with cancer. He was 68.

Caldwell started as a young country boy and left as a southern gentleman and North Carolina Tarheel. He lived life to the fullest, as many family members and friends can attest.

“My brother, Pete, and I visited him in a care center about a month prior to his death,” said Geoffrey Chick, better known in industry circles as “G.” “He seemed in good spirits then. He had just gotten back from a fishing trip to Alaska and was making plans to take his buying group, Rainbow Carpet Color Center, to his villa in Baja.” Caldwell lived in Washington state but maintained an office in Dalton.

He was a lot of things to a lot of people but the job he excelled at most was being grandfather to his grandchildren—Carol Ann, Rebecca Lynne and Roger Marshall—noted his daughter, Debra Kay. “They were the light of his life. He took them whenever he could, including many adventurous trips. His grandchildren will always remember and cherish the life lessons he taught them. We’ll miss him dearly.”

Caldwell loved fishing and hunting and shared this love for the outdoors with everyone. He also loved to travel. He especially loved going on trips to Argentina, Mexico and Alaska, noted his daughter. “He always came back with new, exciting stories and lots of pictures that he cherished and wanted to share.”

Born and raised in North Carolina, Caldwell became a high school basketball star before going on to play for coach Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina (UNC), the first year Smith coached there. “He would have loved to be watching the Final Four this year with his team looking so good,” Chick said. “He helped pay his tuition by selling bibles door-to-door.”

“John first met with us at Sound Floor Coverings in the late ’60s when he owned Executive Carpet Mills,” said Chick. “We bought a lot of carpet from him. He went on to be the sales manager for Barrett Carpet Mills. He loved to hunt and fish and my father (also a bird hunter) lured him to come work for Sound as our sales manager in the ’80s and ’90s. He dazzled customers with his wit and good salesmanship.

“I am very saddened by his loss and will miss him very much,” he concluded. “He was a wonderful friend.”

Caldwell is survived by his daughter and three grandchildren.