Ralph Carpenter

Ralph T. Carpenter, Jr, 97, passed away April 3, 2015 in Surprise, AZ. Ralph was born to Gwendolin and Ralph Carpenter, Sr. on July 5, 1917 in Sheldon, IA. He grew up on his fathers farm in Rock Rapids, IA. He attended the Metropolitan Business College for Industrial Science Agriculture studying animal husbandry and graduating in 1941 to work on the family farm, but the start of WWII would change his career path. Ralph served as a Lt. Colonel in the Army Corp. of Engineers, completing his military service on May 21, 1946. During his military service he married his sweet bride Alice on April 3, 1943. At the time of Alice's death in 2009 they were married for 64 years. After the war ended Ralph would go on to work for the Bureau of Land Management, they raised a family and in 1976 he retired from BLM as a Supervisory/Management Analyst. They would move to AZ shortly after that, living in Ahwatukee for awhile and then coming to Wickenburg, where in 1983, they built their home at the Wickenburg Country Club, overlooking the 18th hole. Ralph loved to golf and played as often as he could. Ralph was pre-deceased by his wife Alice, their only daughter Terri Ann, and his brother Richard. He is survived by his grandson Joshewa (Samantha Gray) granddaughters Bonnie (Abel) Castillo and Amanda (Ricardo) Torres, 1 great grandson Shawn and two great granddaughters Olivia and Abigail, and some extended family. A graveside service with military honors will be held at Wickenburg Cemetery on Saturday April 11, 2015 at 10:00am.