The Shadow
Mary Louise New Carpenter, 88, of Roanoke, formerly of Hot Springs, passed away Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at the Friendship Manor Retirement Community in Roanoke.
She was born November 17, 1922 in Dallas, Texas, the daughter of the late Joel Henry New and Olga Zieka New Simpson. She was married to her husband of 62 years, Randall Carpenter, who preceded her in death on March 12, 2005.
Mrs. Carpenter started working in a Bank when she was 16 in Jackson, Miss. In Hot Springs she worked for the Bath County National Bank, which later became The First Virginia Bank. She retired as assistant vice president after working there for 33 years.
She was a member of the Warm Springs Presbyterian Church, past president of the Women of the Church and was an elder in the church. She also attended Green Ridge Presbyterian Church in Roanoke. Mrs. Carpenter was Past Worthy Matron of the Order of Eastern Star in Warm Springs, helped establish the Lucille Bonner Scholarship Fund and the Muriel Thomas Trust Fund and was Treasurer of Bath County Meals on Wheels from 1987-2003.
She enjoyed helping any community program that she really believed in: Meals on Wheels, American Cancer Society, Red Cross Blood Mobile and any church program or event. At Friendship, Mrs. Carpenter stayed busy with art classes, playing bridge, reading, exercising and taking trips. She was secretary and a board member for Friendship Associates of Residents. She always kept in touch with her grandchildren and great grandchildren by email which she learned to use at the age of 75.
She will be greatly missed by everyone who has had the opportunity to know her, but will be missed the most by those that loved her dearly.
She is survived by two children, Randall “Randy” Carpenter, Jr. and wife Olivia of Hot Springs and Wayne Carpenter and wife Cookie of Pulaski; five grandchildren, Jeff Carpenter and wife Sherrl of Austin, Texas, Angela Huggins and husband Jamie of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, Mark Adkins of Charlotte, N.C., Melissa Betancourt and husband George of Waxhaw, N.C. and Amanda Dudley of Roanoke; four great grandchildren, Trey and Audrey Huggins and Amelia and Grey Louise Betancourt; a sister-in-law, Glenna Carpenter Myers and husband Donald of Hot Springs; special friends, Paige Wheeler and Anne Carpenter; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Lorena New Bond.
A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m., Friday at the Warm Springs Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Charles Reed officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the services in the church Social Hall.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Warm Springs Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 238, Warm Springs, Va., 24484.
Arrangements are being handled by McLaughlin & Young Funeral Home.
