Carlos Conley Westling

   Carlos Conley Westling, a highly decorated veteran of the United States Army's Special Forces, passed away peacefully at his home in Hertford, NC on March 15, 2024 at the age of 72. He was surrounded by his loving family.

   Born in Salzburg, Austria in 1951, he then moved to the United States with his mother, Ludmilla Westling. He lived with his mother and Col. Frank Westling in Fort Benning, Georgia and followed in his father's footsteps by joining the Army in 1973.

   Carlos honorably served for 20 years in the U.S. Army Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (SFOD-D) at Fort Bragg, NC and the Joint Special Operations Command. His service and bravery earned him numerous awards and decorations, including the National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2), Meritorious Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (6th AWD), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal (2), Special Forces Tab, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (4), Joint Meritorious Unit Award (2), Valorous Unit Award, Parachutist Badge, and Scuba Diver Badge.

   After retiring from the Army, Carlos continued to serve his country for 20 years at Harvey Point Defense Testing Activity facility. He will be remembered by family and friends as a passionate fisherman, adventurer, party host, woodworker and cook. He enjoyed sitting by a fire with family and friends, drinking scotch and smoking a good cigar.

  Surviving is his wife, Brenda Wood Westling; his mother, Ludmilla Westling; and his two sisters, Vickie Bassinson (Jeff) and Elizabeth Wilson (Bruce), all of Columbia, Missouri. He also left behind his daughter, Kimberly Westling; two step-daughters, Andrea Peede (David), and Amber Godrey (Jonathan); six grandchildren, Hunter Brininger, Jason Westling, Lauryn Korzeniowski (Ashton), Jake Bray, Hannah and Haven Godfrey, and a great-grandson, Beau Korzeniowski. In addition to his father, Col. Frank Westling, he was preceded in death by his step-father, Dr. John McGowan, and by his son, Jason Westling.

   A memorial service with military honors will be held Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. in Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Home, 1125 Harvey Point Rd, Hertford, NC. Friends may visit with the family immediately following services on Thursday, and other times at the residence, 1507 Harvey Point Rd, Hertford.

   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Unit Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 73338, Fort Liberty, NC 28307 or by visiting unitscholarshipfund.org.

   Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.