Gary Francis Carpenter

October 10, 1950 - December 18, 2014

Gary Francis Carpenter, 64, of Hannibal, Missouri, lost his inspirational battle with ALS, Thursday, December 18, 2014
at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

Funeral Services will be at 11:00 AM Monday, December 22, 2014 at Clover Road Christian Church in Hannibal. Rev. Tim Goodman
will officiate. Burial with full Military Rites by Emmette J. Shields American Legion Post # 55 will be at Grand View Burial Park.
Visitation will be from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM Sunday, December 21, 2014 at the James O'Donnell Funeral Home.

Mr. Carpenter was born October 20, 1950 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Hannibal, MO to Virgil Francis and Goldie Crystal Crane Carpenter.

He was married to Judith (Judy) Ann Rouse on August 15, 1970 at Southside Baptist Church in Hannibal, MO
by Rev. Donald Craig. She survives.

Other survivors include one son, Gary “Scott” Carpenter and daughter-in-law Nicole (nee LaCroix) of Wildwood, MO and
one daughter, Cynthia Christine “Christy” Wright and son-in-law Bryan of Hannibal, MO; 3 grandchildren; Haden Cole Carpenter
of Wildwood, MO, Callie Christine Wright and Addison “Addie” Bryann Wright, both of Hannibal, MO; one brother
Ronald “Wayne” Carpenter (Barb) of Hannibal, MO; three half brothers Robert Pipkin (Mary) and Harold Pipkin (Karen),
all of Hannibal, MO and Jackie Pipkin (Alice) Osage Beach, MO; 2 half sisters Doris Pipkin Simotes of Channahon, IL
and Donna Pipkin Calhoun (John) of Hannibal, MO; mother-in-law, Frances Rouse Golden, sister-in-law, Marla Rouse Frese
of Hannibal, MO; numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, great nephews, great nieces, and great grand nephew and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his paternal grandparents Floyd and Alice Tally Carpenter, maternal grandparents,
Lilburn and Lela Longacre Crane; father-in-law Robert “Bob” Eugene Rouse, step father-in-law Lawrence “Larry” Raymond Golden;
brother-in-law Nicholas "Nick" Simotes and Uncles, Aunts, and Cousins.

Gary was raised in Rensselaer, MO and grew up fishing and coon hunting in the Rensselaer area with his father and brother,
Wayne. He attended Rensselaer School, Monroe City High School and graduated Hannibal Senior High School. Gary was a
United States Army Veteran. He was drafted with a lottery number of 192 drawn from the first Vietnam Draft Lottery held on
Dec. 1, 1969. Gary was inducted into the US Army on September 24, 1970 in St. Louis, MO. He trained at Ft. Leonard Wood,
MO and Ft. Ord, CA prior to serving at Tuy Hoa, Vietnam with Company B 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry 1st Platoon
1st Field Force Vietnam in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam 1971-1972. Spec 4 Gary Carpenter distinguished himself
by being awarded the Army Commendation Medal upon leaving Country. Stateside he finished his active duty at Ft. Riley, KS.
Gary is a current member of Vietnam Veterans of America; and a former member of The Lt. Kenneth Lee Coontz VFW Post
2446 Hannibal, MO; The 22nd Infantry Regiment Society and The Emmette J. Shields American Legion Post 55 Hannibal, MO.

In February 1973 he was employed by Harris Corporation in Quincy, IL, and after 36 years with their Quincy, IL Broadcast Division,
Gary retired in June 2009. He was a member of the Harris Quarter Century Club, Quincy, IL.

Gary was an avid bowler in the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s in the Hannibal/Quincy area having won numerous Mark Twain Tournaments.
He was a fan of St. Louis Cardinal Baseball and St. Louis Cardinal pitcher, “Chris Carpenter”.

His greatest love was his family. Gary will forever be remembered as a loving Husband to Judy, a loving Father to his son Scott,
daughter Christy, son-in law Bryan and daughter-in-law Nicole; and as “Bapa” who loved and adored his three grandchildren
Callie, Addie and Haden.

On his 28th birthday he was baptized into Christ by the Rev. Wayne Davis at Lindell Avenue Christian Church in Hannibal, MO
and is a current member of Clover Road Christian Church Hannibal, MO.

His saying “there’s more to me than good looks” will always resonate with those who loved him.

Memorial contributions may be made to ALS Association St. Louis Chapter, or Muscular Dystrophy Association ALS St. Louis Chapter
or to The Hope Center at Barnes Hospital for ALS Research in care of the James O'Donnell Funeral Home.

FUNERAL SERVICES
Monday December 22, 2014, 11:00 AM at Clover Road Christian Church

from the Find A Grave website

Gary Carpenter in Vietnam

Birth: Oct. 10, 1950
Hannibal
Marion County
Missouri
Death: Dec. 18, 2014
Saint Louis
St. Louis City
Missouri

Burial:
Grand View Burial Park
Hannibal
Ralls County
Missouri

Grave marker for Gary F. Carpenter

Photo by Dennis Fohey from the Find A Grave website

Top photo from the Hannibal Courier-Post

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