Wilma Jean Carpenter

Wilma Jean Carpenter of Watrousville, age 97, passed away on September 26, 2025 at Tuscola County Medical Care Community. Born on May 27, 1928, in Watrousville, she was the daughter of the late Clayton and Ena (Hess) Wilder. Wilma graduated from Caro High School with the Class of 1947 before continuing her studies at Bay City Business School. Throughout her life, she worked in a variety of places, including Lufkin Rule, Industrial Brown Hoist, Midwest Rotary, and Linberg’s Flower Shop, but her greatest labor of love was helping on the family farm.

Wilma’s work ethic was legendary. It is said she carried over 300,000 pails of milk to feed bull calves and completed more than 20,000 loads of laundry. To call her hardworking would be an understatement. She also shared her time and talents with the community, whether taking her team of Belgian draft horses to parades, contributing to the Thumb Draft Horse Association, helping with the Tuscola County Pumpkin Festival, or serving as a devoted member of the Watrousville United Methodist Church.

In July 1956, Wilma married Jack Carpenter. Together they built a loving home and shared over three decades of marriage before Jack’s passing on November 1, 1986. Wilma was a fantastic homemaker and was always there for her family; she was lovingly known as Grandma to many. Her warm smile, tireless spirit, and love will be missed dearly by all who knew her.

Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Craig (Chery) Wilder and Ernie Carpenter; grandsons, Christopher (Jamie) Wilder, Joel Wilder (Michelle Pretzer), Jeffrey Adams (Jackie O’Brien), and Joey (Julie) Adams; great-grandchildren, Maddison, Leah, Kellan, Isabelle, Brendan, Cole, Noah, and Hunter. In addition to her parents and husband, Wilma was preceded in death by her son, Jackie Carpenter and brother, Oscar “Dick” (Darlene) Wilder.

Wilma’s memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Midway Hall at the Tuscola County Fairgrounds in Caro. Wilma’s family will be present to receive visitors on Saturday from 1:00 p.m. until the time of her service with a luncheon following. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider memorial contributions to Watrousville United Methodist Church or Tuscola County Medical Care Community.