Jim Carpenter, 86

James Edward “Jim” Carpenter, 86, died Tuesday, May 24, 2016 in Elizabethton, Tenn. He was born Oct. 12, 1929 in Three Rivers to Leslie Loren and Lena Jeannette (Drake) Carpenter, the seventh of 12 children.

He married Gloria Jean Farley on Sept. 12, 1949 in Centreville, who preceded him in death on April 17, 1997. He later married Helen Beatrice (Wilyard) Gerontinos on Jan. 26, 2002, who preceded him in death on Dec. 6, 2012.

Jim served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, then moved to Indiana where he worked as a Union Plumber Pipefitter and enjoyed farming as a hobby. After retiring, he lived in Florida and Tennessee.

Surviving are: a sister, Vada (Richard) Kline, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; five daughters, Diana (Ernie) Martino of Palm Coast, Fla., Dawn (Mark) Hendricks of Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Darcy (Ramon) Morton of Auburn, Ind., Daryn (Jeff) Vassau of Black Mountain, N.C. and Darla (Rod) Shelburne of Warsaw, Ind.; nine grandchildren, Matthew Myers, Amanda Bockart, Frances Boyes, Andrew (Mary) Morton, John (Karin) Morton, Laura Morton, Kyle Vassau, Lindsey Scott and Lauren Shelburne; and eight great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by four sisters, Thelma Granger, Virginia Kohls, Mildred Fitch and Beatrice Crouch; six brothers, Wesley (Birl), Lester, Loren, Leslie (Chick), Rolland (Rex) and Ronald (Ray); and a grandson.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 11 at Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 210 S. High St., Warsaw, Ind., with visitation one hour prior. The Rev. Andrew Morton and Rev. Erik Ohman will officiate. A graveside service with military honors will take place later at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Fla.

Memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.