Born on August 16, 1913 in Saratoga Springs, he was a son of the late James B. and Elizabeth (Cavanaugh) Carroll and a graduate of Saratoga Springs High School. He excelled in athletics and participated in track, baseball and basketball. An avid golfer, he was a longtime member of McGregor Links Golf Club, playing the game until he was 95. He enjoyed reminiscing about the earlier years as a youth growing up in Saratoga Springs, including experiences of driving autos and various notorious characters from the grand hotels downtown to gaming casinos and the lake houses. Firp was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and served as a private driver for war correspondent Ernie Pyle.
He was a co-owner, operator and car dealer for the former Carroll Auto Sales, established in 1917 and recognized as the longest established and continually operating Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth dealership in the United Sates. A life member of Saratoga-Wilton B.P.O. Elks Lodge 161, he had resided at the Home of the Good Shepherd on Church Street for the past three years.
In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Alfaretta (McLaughlin) Carroll, one brother, Leo James Carroll and a sister, Elizabeth M. Monroe.
Survivors include his daughters, Nancy Platt and Mary Assey and her husband Stephen of Saratoga Springs; his granddaughter, Jennifer Platt and her husband Michael Wagner of Milton; two nieces, Joy Conners and Mary Lee Resnick and two nephews, L. James Carroll and James Monroe.
