Carlton Eugene Spindler, 81, Deadwood, died Thursday, July 18, 2013, at his residence in Deadwood.

Following his wishes, cremation has taken place under the direction of the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis. No services will be held at this time. Cremains will be inurned at the family plot in Deadwood's Oak Ridge Cemetery at a later date.

Carlton is survived by his son, Adam, Gillette, WY; three stepdaughters, Joyce (Tim) Strickland, Aberdeen, SD, Debbie (Ray) Triplett, Carlisle, IA, and Bobbie (Matt) Myers, Dawson, IA; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Carlton Eugene Spindler, was born June 6, 1932, in Deadwood, the son of Carl Willis and Garnet Edith (Ward) Spindler. While attending school in Deadwood, "Gene" was a paper carrier for the Rapid City Journal, a soda jerk at Newell's Drug Store (then across from the Bodega Bar), and a bell hop and desk clerk at the Franklin Hotel. He was editor of both the school newspaper and the yearbook and graduated from Deadwood High School in 1950. A veteran of the Korean War, he served with the Third Army and the U.S. Signal Corps and later with the Coast Guard and the Treasury Dept. in Washington, D.C. In 1960, he relocated to California and for the next fifteen years served as a police technician for the city of Beverly Hills.

In 1975, Carlton and his wife, Treva, returned to Deadwood and opened their own business, The Headmaster, a hairstyling salon. The birth of their only child, Adam Dodd, came one year later, marking the third generation of the Spindler family to be born and raised in Deadwood. Carlton was past president of the Beverly Hills Police Association, Chairman of the Beverly Hills Police Officers' College Scholarship Foundation, and Facilitator for the Southern California Police Officers Basketball League. He was also past president of the South Dakota State Cosmetology Board and held memberships in the National Interstate Council of State Boards, The Loyal Order of the Moose, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks. He was a life member of the United Methodist Church in Deadwood.

In 1992, the Boy Scouts of America honored Carlton with the Council's highest commendation, the prestigious Silver Beaver award for distinguished service to youth. A former scout himself, Carlton, served as a counselor at Medicine Mountain Boy Scout camp near Custer, and on the Black Hills Boy Scout Council in Rapid City, as well as Commissioner for the Bear Butt District, and Cubmaster for Deadwood Elks Lodge #508. He was proud to have been instrumental in assisting six local boys in achieving their Eagle Scout recognition. The following became his creed to live by. "No man stands so tall as when he stoops to help a boy and a hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be a better place, because I was important in the life of a boy."

Preceding him in death were his wife, Treva; his parents; and an older brother, Dr. William E. Spindler.

Cards may be sent to The Spindler family at PO Box H, Deadwood, SD 57732. Memorials may be directed to the Lead-Deadwood Twin City Animal Shelter and the Boy Scouts of America.