After Josephine's death, Carl remained a lonely widower for 16 years. In 1954, when his son Robert had come of age, Carl married Wilhelmine Huber, who had emigrated from Munich in 1949. He had met her at a cultural event at the Kodak works. Mimi and Carl spent a further 47 years together as husband and wife.

In January 1969 Carl left the Kodak company after 33 years. He was popular there, and his department dedicated a portrait to him with the signatures of all his colleagues.

Carl had not been back to Germany for over 35 years, but now, as a pensioner, he and his wife Mimi travelled there nearly every summer. One regular port of call during their round trips was Karl's old home village of Burgsinn, where they always spent several days. The last time the two of them crossed the Atlantic together was when Carl was 93 years old. On their arrival in Frankfurt Carl rented a car as always – he adored driving – and drove his wife through the Spessart region to Burgsinn.

Carl Bayer died on November 7, 2001. His wife Mimi still lives in their house in Rochester.