Dr. Robert Freeman Carlton

Robert Freeman Carlton, age 83, of Murfreesboro, TN, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 6, 2026.

Born in Rover, TN, Dr. Carlton was the eldest son of the late John Hubert and Mattie Lois Lovvorn Carlton. He grew up in Shelbyville, TN, graduating from Central High School in 1960. He graduated with honors from Middle Tennessee State College in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in math and physics. He was awarded M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in nuclear physics from the University of Georgia.

He joined the MTSU faculty in 1968 and in 1995 was selected as the first chair of the newly established Department of Physics and Astronomy, a position he held until he retired in 2008. Between 2003 and 2007 he twice served as Interim Vice-Provost for Research and Dean of the College of Graduate Studies. During this period he championed the campus-wide adoption of an undergraduate research program pioneered in the Physics Department. 

In addition to teaching and administration, he maintained an active research collaboration with physicists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory that was funded for 28 years by grants from the U.S. Dept. of Energy. After retirement, he worked part-time in the STEM Education Center (TSEC) developing grant proposals until 2020. His impact on MTSU spanned more than 50 years.

As a follower of Jesus Christ and a physicist with a biblical worldview he saw beauty and God’s glory in the grand realities and intricate details of the universe, both as observed through physics and mathematics, and as revealed through Scripture. He felt privileged that his career had spanned a golden age in science, where new discoveries affirmed a growing harmony between biblical truth and observed phenomenon. He enjoyed helping others, both skeptics and believers, to see and appreciate these truths.

He was known by family, friends, and colleagues for his work ethic, dry humor, love of sweets and classical music, commitment to prayer and Bible study, and deep devotion to his children, wife, and Savior.

Dr. Carlton is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary Ann Williams Carlton; brother Donald Carlton; four children, Max (Shanna) Carlton, Shana (Scott) Hopkins, Bart Carlton, and Mark (Janet) Carlton; grandchildren Blake Hopkins, Aiden, Nathan, Marina, Cambria, and David Carlton; and cousins, nieces, and a nephew. He was preceded in death by granddaughter Karis Rose Carlton.

He was a member of Belle Aire Baptist Church.

Visitation with the family will be held at Woodfin Memorial Chapel on Friday, September 18, 2026, from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM. Funeral service will be held at Woodfin Memorial Chapel beginning at 11:00 AM with Dr. Sam Upton officiating. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Belle Aire Baptist Church Missions Fund or a charity of your choice.