Earl Carpenter Obituary

MUNCIE - Earl Carpenter, who was 96 years old and a highly decorated veteran of WW II passed away Sunday, September 1, 2103 [sic] 2013 at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis after suffering a severe stroke of August 11, 2013.

Among the many honors Mr. Carpenter received were the Chevalier de la Legion D'Honneur (the French Legion Medal of Honor), the Bronze Star, Four Battle Theatre Stars, and the Czechoslovakian Freedom Medal.

He was born on May 27, 1917 in Farmers, KY the son of Turner and Myrtle (Padgett) Carpenter and moved to Muncie eighty-three years ago at age thirteen. Mr. Carpenter married the love of his life, Kathryn Pauline Dance on September 4, 1941, who preceded him in death on March 7, 2011.

Mr. Carpenter enlisted in the Army on December 5, 1942 and shipped out to England with the 94th Infantry Division on the Queen Elizabeth II in 1944. His first child, a son, Rodney Earl Carpenter, was born on January 4, 1945 while he was fighting in The Battle of The Bulge, the major German offensive campaign launched through the densely forested Ardennes region of Wallonia in Belgium, France, and Luxembourg (December 16, 1944 - January 25, 1945).

Mr. Carpenter worked as a millwright for Owens Illinois in Muncie both before and after WW II for thirty-six years and then as a millwright for Chrysler Corporation in New Castle for fourteen years prior to retiring in 1985. Earl loved to play his harmonica for everyone, especially when Kathryn would accompany him on the Piano. Earl had excellent health up to the time of his stroke and was very active. He enjoyed working in his yard, wood carving, going out to dinner with friends, and many family activities. Earl was a member of the Lions Club, UAW, Liar's Carving Club, and Glad Tidings Assembly of God, and had just recently returned from attending the 94th Infantry Division Reunion in New Orleans, LA this past June.

In addition to his wife, Kathryn and his parents, Turner and Myrtle, he was preceded in death by his four brothers, Ivan, Clyde, Eugene, and Don Carpenter; and two of his three sisters, Margie Carpenter and Elizabeth Carpenter Sayers.

Surviving are his son, Rodney E. Carpenter (Mary Lou Hall), Muncie; his daughter, Jennifer C. Farris (Jeffrey C.), Indianapolis; five grandchildren, Timothy Jordan, Southport, Camila Carpenter Jacobi, Fishers, Amanda Carpenter Spagnoli, Playa Vista, CA, Jordon C. Faris, Indianapolis, and Jessica C. Faris, Brisbane, Australia; five great-grandchildren, Lilly Dycus, Mt. Vernon, IL, Gia Jacobi, Indianapolis, Chloe Spagnoli, Playa Vista, CA, Luke and Hadley Jordan, Southport; step-great-granddaughter, Megan Tomlinson, Noblesville; his sister, Vera Brown, Muncie; two sisters-in-law, Beatrice Dance Maurer (Robert), Terre Haute and Earlene Carpenter (Eugene), Muncie; a brother-in-law, Gene Dance, Mishawaka; and several nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 7, 2013 at The Meeks Mortuary and Crematory, Washington Street Chapel with Pastor Kevin Holt officiating. Burial will follow in Gardens of Memory Cemetery, north of Muncie, with Military Rites by Veterans of Delaware County.

Friends may call from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Saturday at The Meeks Mortuary and Crematory, Washington Street Chapel.

Online condolences may be directed to www.meeksmortuary.com.