Captain William S. Carpenter Of Manasquan Dies At 81

Courtesy of Orender Funeral Home

Captain William S. Carpenter, 81, of Manasquan, died on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015.

He was born and raised in Summit. He later graduated from Colgate University with degrees in biology and chemistry. Following his university studies, he went to Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI, where he was commissioned as Ensign in the USNR.

He served his active duty aboard the destroyer USS Ingersoll based in San Diego. He continued his Naval affiliation as a reservist with helicopter Squadron HS-75, and later with Naval Intelligence serving as the commanding officer of a DIA unit later to finish his 43 years combined service as a deputy on RIAC 18 Staff, located in Willow Grove, PA. His civilian life was spent in medical sales with numerous companies, ending his last years as an orthopedic sales specialist selling artificial joint replacements to hospitals in New Jersey.

Mr. Carpenter was always interested in sports and played football and track in high school and track his freshman year in college. He also loved both freshwater and saltwater fishing and crabbing, and was very fond of his family dogs. One of his greatest loves was watercolor painting. He was a member the Manasquan River Group of artists for over 25 years where he served as president and as a member of their board of directors. His paintings were on display at the Art Loft in Belmar, where he was an associate in this co-op art gallery. Mr. Carpenter was also very active in outside art shows in Monmouth and Ocean Counties and he conducted art classes for both intermediate and beginning students.

Mr. Carpenter was predeceased in death by his wife, Ann of 43 years in 2010, his daughter, Sharon in 1968 and his twin brother, Dudley in 2001. He is survived by his three sons, Kevin Carpenter of Matthews, NC, The Rev. David Carpenter of Brentwood, CA and Kurt Carpenter of Estacada, OR. Also his four stepchildren, Cynthia Panasuk of Landenberg, PA, Todd Brown of Winston-Salem, NC, Jill Fabian of New York, NY and Cheryl Campi of Wall. Their combined children gave him 22 grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Ken of Safety Harbor, FL; a sister, Betsy Betts of Beals Island, ME and another brother, Richard Carpenter of Spring, TX; also three great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, with a service at 11 a.m. at Grace Bible Church, 4041 Squankum-Allenwood Road, Wall. Donations may be made in Mr. Carpenter’s memory to The Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675. Arrangements are under the care of Orender Family Home for Funerals, 2643 Old Bridge Road, Wall. To send condolences to the family, please visit orenderfamilyhome.com.