Dr. Joseph Perry Carpenter

Dr. Joseph Perry Carpenter, a Hendersonville native, departed this life Sunday, Sept 3, just weeks after celebrating his 91st birthday. He was born August 18, 1932, son of the late Walter W Carpenter and Emily Moore Carpenter. He attended all 12 grades in the current Hendersonville High School building, graduating in 1950, after starting the model airplane club and running the school candy store. In 1953 he graduated from Davidson College where he majored in Chemistry, learned a smattering of Latin and German, and was assigned to the Cross Country team after winning the freshman cake race. He met his future wife, Anne Huie, at a Davidson dance and they married in 1956.

After graduating from the UNC School of Dentistry in 1957, he was stationed at Key West Naval Air Station, where he enjoyed sailing on his Sunfish and riding his red Cushman scooter to the office. In 1959 he and Anne returned to Hendersonville and his beloved mountains. Just to be fair, Anne often recounted that he showed her a map of Western NC and said she could pick any town there…no pressure of course! Following in his father’s footsteps he opened his own dental practice. He was an old school dentist, doing the cleaning and other procedures himself and carrying on mostly one-sided conversations with folks while he worked. His patients knew a great deal about our family, the status of whatever car he was repairing, or the condition of the vegetable garden. After 38 years working out of the same 6th Avenue office, he retired in 1997.

Throughout his adult life he enjoyed restoring old VWs and Fiats, singing in the choir, hiking, camping, hunting, and fly fishing. After retiring, he volunteered with Habitat for Humanity on the Wednesday crew for over 18 years. He was a jewelry maker, a wood worker, and a fixer of anything – especially if it had an engine. He and Anne traveled many places including Europe (more Anne), Antarctica (more Joe), multiple trips to Alaska, and many many wonderful family beach vacations with children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren all piling into one house where many happy memories were made.

Joe’s heart was his faith and his family. His love of God guided him throughout his life and he lived his faith and shared it willingly. He was a charter member of Covenant Presbyterian Church, serving in many leadership roles as well as a member of the choir. He led by example and quietly but strongly shared these values with his family. He and Anne had a joyful marriage and they set an example for their children to follow in living a life of love and faith.

He was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Anne Huie, as well as his sister Sarah Julia Stickley. He is survived by four children: Walter Carpenter and his wife Kathryn of Hendersonville, Sallie Gustafson and her husband Thure of Atlanta, Ga, Julie Carpenter and her husband Paul Wolfteich of Alexandria, Va, and Litchfield Carpenter and his husband Washington Dender of Savannah, Ga, as well as seven grandchildren and four great–grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, September 7 at Covenant Presbyterian Church with Rev Steve Mirich officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow at Oakdale Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Covenant Presbyterian Church Missions Funds, 2101 Kanuga Rd, Hendersonville or Habitat For Humanity.

Church Street Funeral & Cremation is honored to be serving Dr. Carpenter’s family.