John Albert Carpenter

John Albert Carpenter, Sr. died August 28, 2011 at his home. John was born on November 15, 1923 to Nancy Barnhill Carpenter and Ellis J. Carpenter. He graduated from Owensboro High School where he served on the Student Senate, the Annual Staff, was teacher's choice for Outstanding Senior and excelled in basketball, football and baseball. He served as Vice-President of the National Athletic Scholastic Fraternity. He attended Purdue University and the University of Kentucky. He worked with his family on the Iglehart Family Farm before joining Bryant Distributing where he was former president and was chairman of the board until his death.
He was a member of St. Stephen Cathedral where he served on the finance committee, vice-president of the Owensboro Rotary where he was a Paul Harris Fellow, Board of Owensboro National Bank (now BB&T), past president of the Wholesale Wine and Spirits Association, and a member of the national Wholesale Wine and Spirits Association. He was recognized in 1979 by the National Federation of Independent Business, a small business advocacy group. He received the Free Enterprise award for protecting the free enterprise system from unnecessary and harmful regulation and legislation.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Dr. William Carpenter, and a sister-in-law, Louise Carpenter.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Dorothy Jean Carpenter; sons, John Albert Carpenter, Jr. (wife Sherry) of Lexington, Jefferson Bryant Carpenter (wife Marcia) of Owensboro, and James Ellis Carpenter (wife Susan) of Louisville; grandchildren, Francis Jean Carpenter, Ginger Carpenter Williams (Brent), Joy Carpenter Allen (Tim), Jefferson Bryant Carpenter II, James Ellis Carpenter, Jr., Caroline Harralson Ruschell (Joe), Christopher Bryant Carpenter (Alex), Clay Cassidy Carpenter (Meghan), John Kuegel Harralson; great-grandchildren, Cameron Grant Williams, Bryant Abell Williams, Christopher Alexander Carpenter, Lucas Matel Carpenter, Merrie Katherine Allen, Julianna Francis Allen, Charlotte Grace Ruschell; a nephew, William Joseph Carpenter (Brenda); a niece, Nancy Carpenter Calhoun; and special caretakers Jodi Norris, Tammy Bartlett, Sandy Evans, and Sheila Rains.

Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at St. Stephen Cathedral with Father John Vaughan officiating followed by burial in Rosehill Cemetery. Visitation is from 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 29, 2011 with prayers at 7:00 p.m. and from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory.

Expressions of sympathy make take the form of contributions to St. Stephens Cathedral, 601 Locust St., Owensboro, KY 42301 or to the Owensboro Rotary, 1735 Frederica St., Owensboro, KY 42301.

Online condolences may be left at www.glennfuneralhome.com.