Wendell E. Carpenter

Hard working, strong willed, helping, friendly and a great sense of humor was just a few ways to describe Wendell Carpenter. He enjoyed being with family and friends and did not know a stranger. You could always tell that he liked you by how hard of a time he gave you.

The final new episode of the classic television comedy, "I Love Lucy" was last aired in 1957. The year saw the peak of the "baby boomers", Elvis Presley purchased Graceland, the first nuclear reactor plant opened in Pennsylvania and the first space satellite Sputnik 1 was launched. Popular toys that children wanted that year included the marketing of the first Frisbee, electric toy machine guns and juke boxes, Captain Kangaroo Tasket Basket, the Chemcraft Master Lab, and the Atomic Missile pedal car. That year on November 5th in Crestline, Ohio, Wendell Eugene Carpenter was welcomed into this world. He was the son of John B. Carpenter and Shirley (Lovely) Burchaman.

The first eight years of his life were spent living in Ohio before the family moved to Columbia City, Indiana. He enjoyed playing ball and worked part-time for an antique furniture store after school. Wendell also found time to learn the art of karate. He would go on to graduate from Columbia City Joint High School with the Class of 1976.

Wendell was an extremely hard worker. He spent 30 years working for Dana; 28 years in their Fort Wayne plant and two years in their Columbia City plant. He also was the owner of Carpenter Drywall and Texture for over 25 years.

In his free time, Wendell loved being outdoors! He enjoyed going hunting and fishing, having family over to his pond in rural Huntington, and being with his dogs. He found relaxation in being outdoors and mowing his property. He also was very mechanically skilled and worked on a lot of cars throughout his years.

He loved his family and was very proud of his three sons, Jason, Justin and Zach. They took several trips camping, going fishing in Wisconsin and deer and wild boar hunting in Arkansas. He tried visiting his mom as often as he could, driving to Columbia City three times a week. Everyone who walked into the American Legion in Roanoke knew him as he was a member of the Sons of the America Legion. He enjoyed talking with people and was easy to make friends with.

Everyone who he touched will deeply miss him and his personality. On Thursday, April 26, 2018 after feeling ill that morning at his home in rural Huntington, Wendell E. Carpenter, 60, passed away unexpectedly at 8:38 p.m. at Lutheran Hospital of Indiana in Fort Wayne.

He leaves behind his three sons, Jason Carpenter, of Columbia City, Justin Carpenter, of Columbia City and Zach Maggart, of Huntington; mother, Shirley Burchaman, of Columbia City; brother, John Carpenter, of Columbia City; sister, Mary Minnick, of Columbia City; grandchildren, Faith, Carson, Tristan and Colton and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father.

Visitation is 3-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Memorial gifts may be given in his memory to the Roanoke American Legion. Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send his family condolences online.