Neal Carpenter            1924 - 2015

Neal Carpenter, 91, died Aug. 24, 2015, at Cherry Village in Great Bend. Born Aug. 18, 1924, in Cottonwood Falls, he was the son of Earnest and Rose (LaLodge) Carpenter. He graduated from Chase County High School and went to Radio School in Kansas City, where he later taught Army pilots how to operate radios during World War II. During radio school, he met and married Thelma R. Noble Jan. 30, 1943, at Cottonwood Falls. He later worked as a postal clerk at Oskaloosa and had a radio repair shop there. Neal moved to Albuquerque, N.M., and worked as a research technician for Sandia National Laboratory until he retired and returned to his home state of Kansas. He enjoyed traveling, puttering and tinkering, science, watching football and studying financial trends.
Survivors include his wife, Thelma R. Carpenter; two daughters, Joyce Hetu Hagan and her husband Everett of Rio Rancho, N.M., and Billie Bonomo of Odin; one son, Donald Carpenter and his wife Cheryl of Annabella, Utah; one brother, Richard Carpenter of Salina; two sisters, Lillian Davis and her husband Larry of Shawnee, and Hazel Everett of Strong City; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons-in-law, Robert Hetu and Robert Bonomo; four brothers, Hank, William, Kenneth and Arnold; and three sisters, Ruth, Myrtle and Alice.
It was his wish to donate his body to the University of Kansas Medical Center. There are no services planned. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net
                      
Funeral arrangements provided by    
Bryant Funeral Home*         
1425 Patton Road       
Great Bend, KS.  67530
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Aug. 28, 2015