Kenneth Carpenter

Kenneth Carpenter September 30, 1920 – December 4, 2011 Kenneth Carpenter of Waco passed away Sunday, December 4, 2011. Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, December 8, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel with Pastors Steve and Cyndi Abbe officiating. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park. Visitation will be 4:00-6:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 7, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Garden Room. Kenneth was born on September 30, 1920, in Munger, Texas, to Lee and Iona Carpenter. He attended Bruceville-Eddy ISD. He was a veteran of our armed services, serving as a Corporal in the 994th Material Squadron, 559th Air Service Group. His assignment was in the American Theatre, Aviation Specific Theatre, and Army Occupation in Japan. He served as an airplane and engine mechanic in the Army Air Corp from 1944 to 1946. In December of 1938 he married the love of his life, Beatrice Carpenter. They were blessed to celebrate 73 years of marriage. He was a member of Memorial Baptist Church for over 50 years and served as a deacon there. His servant heart touched many different lives. After the closing of the Memorial Baptist Church in 2003, he joined the Emmanuel Baptist Church and was a faithful member of the Men's C.L.A.S.S.I.C. Bible class. He retired from Carpenters Auto Service, where he and his brothers served the Waco community for over 40 years. He was also a member of the Fidelis Masonic Lodge #1127. Despite retirement, he never turned down an opportunity to work on someone's car, particularly for his grandkids and great grandkids. He loved the Baylor community and was a faithful parking attendant for the Baylor games, as well as a dedicated fan of the Lady Bears Basketball Team. He could be found on the sidelines of any sporting event involving his great grandkids. He loved family gatherings and would cook hamburgers or grill chicken and steaks using his famous barbeque sauce. He was a hard worker, devoted husband, loving father and the grandest of all Papas. He was preceded in death by his wife, Beatrice Carpenter. Kenneth is survived by his two daughters, Darlene Abbe of Waco and Sharon Philbrick and her husband, Jon, of Woodway; grandchildren, Steve and Cyndi Abbe, Rick and Suzanne Abbe, Larry Philbrick, Bryan and Darla Cross, Dana Abbe and David and Crystal Minnick; 13 great grandchildren; and many more friends and family. Pallbearers are his great grandsons, Zach Cross, Hunter Abbe, Ty Cross, Tyler Minnick, Matthew Philbrick and Andrew McCall. Honorary pallbearers are the men in his Sunday school class. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our Memorial Guestbook at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.