Seattle Press on Line - Ballard VW Pioneer Dies in Helicopter Crash

Ballard VW Pioneer Dies in Helicopter Crash

Wade Carter with a new 2000 VW beetle.

May 17, 2001 -- Wade Carter Jr., founder of Carter Volkswagen and a leader in Ballard business and community affairs for over 41 years, was killed in a helicopter crash near Port Orchard May 11.

Carter started his automotive career in 1954, working at the parts counter of a VW dealership in Portland, Oregon. In 1960, four years after he graduated from college, Carter moved to Seattle and founded his own dealership in Ballard. Later he added the Saab brand, and opened a Subaru dealership in Shoreline. He was active in the Ballard community and was a member of Ballard Rotary. He is survived by his wife Mary, two children, Sara Carter, Wade C. Carter III, who heads Carter Volkswagen, and one grandchild.

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