Maurice Edward Carpenter

CARPENTER, Maurice Edward, 86, of Tappahannock, passed away at home on July 5, 2010. Born in Winchester, Va., on August 16, 1923, he was preceded in death by his parents, Edward O. and Elsie S. Carpenter; and three brothers, Raymond, Nelson and Burl Carpenter. Survivors include his beloved wife, Kathryn Kennedy Carpenter; son, Keith Carpenter (Barbara); daughters, Mary Kay Bright (Jim) and Jennie Rose (Larry); eight grandchildren, Cheri Rose Roach, Wendy Rose Chinn (David), Robert Carpenter, McKey Carpenter, Will Lumpkin (Kelly), Lorrie Lumpkin Highlander (Bill), Beckie Lumpkin Langford (Barry) and Jamie Bright; six great-grandchildren; and sister, Lucille Everly of Winchester, Va. A graduate of Stephen City High School, he enlisted in the United States Merchant Marines during WWII. Following in his father's footsteps, he farmed in Hanover County from 1949 to 1960 when his family then moved to Essex County. Mr. Carpenter worked for Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance and then Colonial Farm Credit Assoc., where he became the Tappahannock office Branch Manager until his retirement after 22-and-a-half years in 1986. Since 1960, he served faithfully at Ephesus Baptist Church in many capacities including choir, deacon and Sunday school teacher. Through the years he served as a docent for the Essex County Museum and Historical Society, was also a member of the Ruritan Club, served on the Essex County School Board and was presented lifetime membership in the PTA and 4-H Club. His greatest joy in later years has been spending time with his wife, watching his grandchildren grow up and spending time with entertaining his great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 8, 2010, at 11 a.m. in the Marks-Bristow Funeral Home, Tappahannock. Interment will follow in Ephesus Baptist Church Cemetery, Dunnsville. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. this evening at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ephesus Baptist Church Building Committee, P.O. Box 1109, Dunnsville, Va. 22454, or the Essex County Museum and Historical Society, P.O. Box 404, Tappahannock, Va. 22560.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.