John C. Carpenter

John C. Carpenter

October 25, 1918 - August 20, 2012

John C. Carpenter

October 25, 1918 - August 20, 2012

Obituary

John C. Carpenter, 93, of Rancho Santa Margarita, California died Monday, August 20, 2012 at his residence. Private funeral services will be held on Monday, August 27, 2012 at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego, California. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Lt. Col. Carpenter was born 25 October, 1918 at Wolf Summit, WV. He served the U.S. Department of Defense for 36 years. He first joined the U.S. Army as a Private on 18 October, 1939, when Adolf Hitler invaded Poland and World War II was started. In September, 1941 he was a member of the U.S. Army Expeditionary Force to Iceland prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December, 1941. He returned to the U.S. in November, 1942 to attend the U.S. Army Air Force Officer Candidate School, and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant 3 March, 1943. He served with numerous units in the U.S., the Pacific Theatre and the European Theatre. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel, USAF, 31 May, 1961. He was a lifetime member of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), and a member of the Army Airways Communications Service (AACS) Alumni. Following active duty, Colonel Carpenter served in civilian capacity with the Air Force Communications Service (AFCS) until 31 May, 1975. After retirement, he resided in Lee’s Summit, MO for a period of more than 25 years. In 2006, Colonel Carpenter moved to Rancho Santa Margarita, California.

He was preceded in death by four sisters (Irene, Evelyn, Ruth and Betty), one brother (Harold Carpenter of Boynton Beach, Fl) and a daughter (Linda Showalter of Orange, CA). He is survived by his loving wife Gertrude (Trudy) Galford Carpenter of Rancho Santa Margarita, California; sons John T. Carpenter and wife Mary-Scott Carpenter of Coto de Caza, California, and Kent C. Carpenter and wife Onya Carpenter of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, as well as seven grandchildren (Briana Carpenter Vickers, Brittanny Perry, Brooke Carpenter, John (J.T.) Carpenter, Jr.) (Amanda Carpenter, Luke Carpenter) and (Lindsay Showalter), and two great-grandchildren (Madelyn Perry and Ainsley Vickers). He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Arrangements by O’Connor Mortuary, Laguna Hills, CA and the Miramar National Cemetery, San Diego, California.

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8 responses to John C. Carpenter

  1. Miramar National Cemetery, August 27, 2012

  2. Miramar National Cemetery, August 27, 2012

  3. jt carpenter says:

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