Michael Carpenter

1942 - 2022

October 29, 1942 - September 14, 2022 Michael Forrest Carpenter, age 79, long-time resident of Manhattan Beach, California, passed away on September 14, 2022, after a hard-fought battle with cancer. He is survived by his loving wife Linda Howard Carpenter, her children Dan Howard (Valencia) and Kate Krueck (Jim) and five grandchildren, his three siblings, John (Anne), Susan Evans, and Paul (Liz), and many nieces, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Mike accomplished much in his life. He earned his bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Minnesota's Institute of Technology in 1964 and received his Air Force commission the following year. He served several tours in Vietnam and worked on fighter aircraft engineering and repair as well as the integration of satellite payloads into space launch vehicles, ultimately rising to the rank of Major before his retirement in 1985 after 20 years of service. He earned a master's degree in engineering management from the University of Missouri, Rolla, while in the Air Force and later went on to work in the private sector on space-related aeronautics for over 25 years.
Mike met Linda in 1997 and they married in 2000. Mike and Linda fully enjoyed life together, attending car races and car shows, the philharmonic, plays at local theaters, Wagner's Ring Cycle opera among others, and tennis tournaments. They went to Yosemite every summer and traveled to Minneapolis and Chicago many times. At the time of his death, Mike and Linda had celebrated 22 years of marriage.
A memorial service will be held at a future date. Interment will be at the National Cemetery in Westwood, California. Memorials in his honor may be directed to National Wildlife Refuge Association at www.refugeassociation.org/donate <http://www.refugeassociation.org/donate>.