Richard Howlett (Dick) Carlton

Carlton, Richard Howlett (Dick), died on September 1, 2026. He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, John Garland and Marian Payne Carlton. He is survived by his daughter Elizabeth (Liz) Carlton Crosby and her husband Dr. Glenn A. Crosby II, two grandsons, Jack Hutchison Crosby (Laura Cummins) and Walker Mace Crosby, a son, Richard (Rick) Howlett Carlton, Jr. and a brother, John Garland Carlton, Jr. (Pauline).

Born in Richmond, Virginia, Dick graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School where he was a National Merit Scholar and a Senior Class officer. He received his BA in Political Science from The University of Virginia where he was Editor-in-Chief of The Cavalier Daily and a member of the Intra-Fraternity Council. He worked as a reporter for the Charlottesville bureau of the Richmond Times-Dispatch while in school. After he received his Masters of Humanities degree from the University of Richmond, he worked for Dominion Power and SunTrust as well as area advertising agencies before starting his own marketing, public relations and advertising firm, Carlton Communications Inc., in 1975.

Dick was president of the Richmond Public Relations Association and his firm received the highest PR award in the nation, The Silver Anvil, from the Public Relations Society of America.  Carlton Communications Inc. also was awarded two national Clios for print and advertising in addition to various local and regional PR and advertising awards.  He was an adjunct professor for 14 years in the School of Mass Communications at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The agency’s clients included The Mayo Clinic Foundation, Lloyd’s of London (mid-Atlantic), the Highway Safety Division of Virginia, retirement communities, hotels, tourism authorities, The John Marshall Foundation, Henrico Doctors Hospital, the Historic Richmond Association and trade associations.

Dick served as president of the Church Hill Association and on a number of boards including Governor Wilder’s Commission for a Drug-Free Virginia, the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce, Central Richmond Association, Virginia League for Planned Parenthood, Fan Free Clinic, Emergency Shelter Inc., and the Virginia Division of the American Cancer Society.

He was an active member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church where he served two terms on the Vestry.

He was an avid fan of all types of music from classical to jazz to rock and bluegrass. He loved UVA athletics, but tired of saying “wait until next year”.

The family wishes to acknowledge and thank his friends for their steadfast support and especially to Courtney Petley of GeroPartners LLC whose loving care was indispensable these last number of years.

A memorial service will be held at The Spiritual Center at Westminster Canterbury on Friday,  September 18, 2026 at 11am. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 815 E. Grace St., Richmond, VA 23219