Robert H. Carpenter, Sr.

Dr. Robert “Bob” Henley Carpenter, Sr., 95, of Columbus, Georgia passed away peacefully on February 6, 2025, at Spring Harbor of Green Island. He was born in December 1929 in Winfield, Alabama. Dr. Carpenter was a home delivery on a snowy morning by Dr. Robert Leroy Hill to Mona and Roy Gatman Carpenter. He was the youngest of three children. He attended Winfield elementary and high schools, graduating in 1948 as valedictorian. Dr. Carpenter played football, basketball, and baseball for three years. He entered the University of Alabama in September 1948, graduating in May 1952 with a B.S. in Chemistry. Following graduation, he married Nelda Jean Dennis of Beaverton, AL in August 1952. Dr. Carpenter attended the Medical College of Alabama in Birmingham, Alabama from September 1952 until May 1956. (It is now known as UAB.) He interned at Lloyd Noland Hospital in Fairfield, Alabama from July 1956 until June 30, 1957. Dr. Carpenter completed an OB/Gyn residency through University Hospital and Hillman Clinics: one year at Carraway Methodist Hospital and one year at University Hospital, both in Birmingham, with the last year at Mobile General Hospital in Mobile, Alabama. He then served two years at Martin Army Hospital at Fort Benning, Georgia from July 1960 to July 1962, establishing his home in Columbus, GA. On June 16, 1962, he joined Harold George Jarrell, M.D. in the practice of Obstetrics and Gynecology on 20th Street. Dr. Carpenter left the practice in 1971 to start his own office. He stopped obstetrics in 1983 and fully retired in October 1992 in honor of his wife’s birthday. During his career, Dr. Carpenter delivered over 6,000 babies in the Columbus area. He was always delighted when approached by former patients telling him “You delivered my baby!”

Dr. Carpenter was a life-long member of St. Luke United Methodist Church. He served on the Muscogee County School board from 1971 to 1975. He and Nelda enjoyed traveling the world after his retirement, and they typically returned with five identical gifts, one for each of their children. They spent many peaceful days at their condo in Panama City Beach, Florida, frequently with family members and close friends. Dr. Carpenter will always be remembered for his love of colorful clothing, his sense of humor, and the delight he took in playfully teasing those around him.

Dr. Carpenter was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Nelda Dennis Carpenter, and his two older siblings, Caroline Carpenter Nabors, Roy G. Carpenter, Jr. He is survived by their five children, Rhonda Carpenter Voynich (Scott), Melinda Carpenter Topor (David), Dr. Robert H. Carpenter, Jr. (Fran), Rebecca Carpenter French, Dr. Carol Carpenter Houston, twelve grandchildren, and twenty-three great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to express sincere gratitude to the entire team at Spring Harbor and to Columbus Hospice for providing extensive professional and loving care. Special recognition is also given to Dr. Carpenter’s private caregivers, Dianne Ingersoll, Gloria Bolling, Stephanie Smith, Jackie Williams, Latonya Wilson, Janice Marbury, and Shawanna Placide. The continuous care and assistance from all of these dedicated individuals has been invaluable to Dr. Carpenter and his family.

A memorial service will be held in Edgewood Hall at Striffler-Hamby mortuary, 4071 Macon Road, on February 14, 2025 at 11:00 AM, followed by a reception and visitation with the family in the Mill Room until 1:30 pm. A private interment will follow the reception. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Columbus Hospice or to the Spring Harbor Foundation.