GREAT BEND — Thelma R. Carpenter, 93, died July 11, 2017, at Brookdale Senior Living, Great Bend.
She was born Nov. 24, 1923, at Ozawkie, the daughter of Levi Church and Rachael Ruth (Hurt) Noble. She graduated from Rock Creek High School and attended radio school in Topeka. She married Neal Russell Carpenter Jan. 30, 1943, at Cottonwood Falls. He died Aug. 24, 2015.
She worked at Pratt-Whitney in Kansas City during World War II. She moved to Albuquerque, N.M., where she worked at Dillards and retired from Sandia National Laboratory. She moved to Great Bend in 1988, where she was a member of Liberty FCE and Lions. She enjoyed the outdoors, gardening, travelling, reading and hand crafts.
Survivors include a son, Donald Carpenter and his wife Cheryl, Rio Rancho, N.M.; two daughters, Billie Bonomo, Claflin, and Joyce Hagan and her husband Everett, Rio Rancho, N.M.; two sisters, Shirley Sackschewsky and her husband Marvin, Great Bend, and Donna Ward, Oskaloosa; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 74 years, Neal Carpenter; two sons-in-law, Robert Hetu and Robert Bonomo; a sister, An-na Cooper; a brother, Warren Noble; three brothers-in-law, Carl Metzger, Carl Ward and Edward Cooper; and a sister-in-law, Jean Noble.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Inurnment will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Perry, at a later date. Memorials in Mrs. Carpenter’s name have been established with Kans for Kids, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.
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, July 12, 2017