John Carpenter
July 16, 1942 – June 7, 2011
John A. Carpenter, 68, of Lebanon, died at home July 7, 2011.
He was born July 16, 1942 in Los Angeles, Calif. to Ralph Leslie and Alberta May (Willson) Carpenter.
Mr. Carpenter moved to Crawfordsville in 1959 and attended Sweet Home High School. He joined the Army in 1960, serving in Special Forces with the Green Berets, Rangers, and the Airborne. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam and was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant in 1973.
Mr. Carpenter married Della Bail on Oct. 30, 1971 in Sweet Home. They made their home in Seattle and later in Eastern Washington. They later divorced.
He eventually returned to Oregon and owned a gun shop in Sherwood. He moved to Lebanon in 2001.
Mr. Carpenter enjoyed reading and movies and was known for paying for the spaying and neutering of people’s cats who couldn’t afford it.
He is survived by his son, Ralph Leslie Carpenter, II of Olympia, Wash.; daughters La Vonne May Carpenter of Portland and Leeann Carpenter of Illinois; brother David C. Carpenter of Flagstaff, Ariz.; sisters Marcia Faye Carpenter of Lebanon, Donna M. Bessire of Tillamook and Josephine L. Brown of Red Bluff, Calif.; and nine grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Jacqueline D. Carpenter.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 14, at the IOOF Cemetery in Lebanon.
Contributions in his memory may be made to SafeHaven Humane Society sent in care of Huston-Jost Funeral Home, 86 W. Grant St., Lebanon, Oregon 97355.