Helen Carpenter

Helen L. Carpenter, 73, of Mansfield, died November 22, 2004 at MedCentral Mansfield Hospital. She went to be with her Lord, Jesus Christ and Savior unexpectedly following a brief illness. She was born May 17, 1931, in Lewis County, Kentucky to Ora and Ida Opal Osborne. She was the owner/operator of Helen's Country Kitchen for over 15 years. Helen's Country Kitchen was her first ministry work for Diamond Hill Cathedral and the Lord. She left the legacy of feeding thousands of people in Mansfield and surrounding areas, employing and helping countless others to know the love of God. She then had worked at Miracle Ear for over 19 years and enjoyed working with her dear friends, Joe and Miriam Perry. She attended First Assembly of God and Word of Faith. Helen devoted her life to ministry and lived the word''When I come back for you, let me find you busy about my Father's business'. She became a licensed and ordained minister September 24, 1992 with the International Ministry Forum with Pastor Doris Swartz. In her many years in the ministry field, she was a missionary to Honduras with the Gospel Crusade de Honduras with special friends, Peter and Cass Twitchell. The Lord led her to other mission fields including Jamaica with the International Ministry Forum and dearest to her heart, Cranks Creek Survival Center in Cranks Creek, Ky. She leaves a legacy in the city of Mansfield by being the founder of the National Day of Prayer and the Bible reading marathon. Mayor Lydia Reid, a personal friend and prayer partner, was instrumental in helping this come to pass and we thank her greatly. On a weekly basis, she and her beloved friend, Sister Clara Lewis, ministered in the Word at the Rotary Day Care Center for 10 years, at Griffith Nursing Home in Bellville for 18 years, the Friendship Center for Seniors for 10 years, and most recently at Mifflin Care Center for the past 2 years. In addition to her ministry to seniors, she was the president of the Mansfield Chapter of Flame Fellowship International and traveled throughout Ohio and Dallas, Texas with Flame for over 10 years. She founded Prayer and Praise Ministry and helped to teach, train, and inspire countless men and women in the Lord for over 22 years, many of who now have their own ministries.

She was a loving, devoted and selfless mother of one daughter and son-in-law, Inez and Dan Phillips of Mansfield. She is also survived by one beloved granddaughter, Sarah Bethany Conn of Mansfield; and God's special gift, great-granddaughter, X'Zaria Marie Murphy; and her first son, Gary Ray Conn of Mansfield; one grandson, Timothy Jackson Carpenter of Wooster; and his little man; a brother, James R. Osborne of Mansfield; sister, Etta Myrl Lewis of Wheelersburg; and baby brother, Gilbert Lee Osborn of Mansfield. She leaves behind a niece and nephew, whom she felt were as close as her own children, Allen and Terri Osborne of Mansfield; and numerous other nieces and nephews. Among many aunts and uncles, she leaves behind, Uncle Art and Aunt Myrt Logan of Portsmouth, Aunt Hazel Osborne and Judith of Tulsa, Okla.; special cousin, Joe Logan of Carter County, Ky.; along with her loving family, she leaves behind many precious friends too numerous to mention. She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Jarrold Richards and Thomas Carpenter; infant baby girl, Janice Leigh Richards; daughter, Cynthia Carpenter; son, Timothy Patton Carpenter; and two brothers-in-law, Herbert Paul Lewis and Howard Carpenter.

Friends may call at the Diamond Street Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, Friday, November 26 from 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. and one hour prior to funeral services to be held Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home, conducted by Pastor Buddy Barrows. Burial will follow in Mansfield Memorial Park in the Old Rugged Cross section. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the family to fulfill Helen's desire to send Bibles to the mission fields overseas.