George Carpenter

Waynesville-George Lawrence Carpenter, age 82, of 216 Carpenter Way, died Friday, August 15, 2003.

He was a native of Roanoke, Virginia, and had resided in Haywood County since 1940. He was the son of the late William Grover and Callie Carrico Carpenter. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers and three sisters.

He retired from the US Air Force with the rank of major, having served in the Pacific during World War II. He reentered the Air Force in 1946 and continued until 1965. He served in and visited 43 countries and numerous islands. He served on a number of boards in the county after his retirement. He served 20 years with Mountain Project's anti-poverty program; served twice as chairman of the Haywood County Social Services Department; served as chapter chairman of the American Red Cross and also on the board of the RC Regional Blood Services Program. He had served on the board of directors of REACH and KARE, the Kids Advocacy Resource Effort.

He was a 32-degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of Masonic Lodge 259 AF & AM in Waynesville and also a member of Oasis Shriners. He was a member of Eastern Star Chapter 165. He was a member of American Legion Post 47 of Waynesville and the Kiwanis Club. He was a former member of BPOE Elk Lodge in Waynesville.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Waynesville, having served as a Sunday School teacher, Sunday School superintendent and chairman of the board of deacons. He was serving as an elder at the time of his death.

Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Rena Messer Carpenter; one daughter, Carolyn Sawyer and her husband, Michael, of Waynesville; one granddaughter, Caroline Michelle Sawyer and one grandson, George Michael Sawyer, both of Waynesville; and several nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 17, 2003 at the First Presbyterian Church of Waynesville with the Reverend Richard Burnette officiating. Burial will follow at Garrett-Hillcrest Memorial Park with Masonic Graveside Rites conducted by Masonic Lodge 259 AF & AM; the lodge will open at 2:30 p.m. The family will receive friends from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 16, 2003 at Wells Funeral Home in Waynesville.

The pallbearers will be George Sawyer, Ed James, Don Eudy, David and Bill Wintenburg and Bill Sterrett.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Waynesville, 305 N. Main Street, Waynesville, NC 287876 or to a charity of one's choice.

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