Dave L. Carpenter

Dave was born May 3, 1930 in Freeze, Virginia but grew up in Catawba County, North Carolina, primarily in Newton.

Dave was a Korean War Veteran, having served for 12 years in the U.S. Air Force, signing up when he was just seventeen

years old. After mustering out of the armed services in Jacksonville, within a few years he began his career in the technical

department for Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA). During his twenty year career with JEA he rose through the ranks until

he retired as Assistant Director of Distribution. Although he had earned his GED while in the Air Force, he wasn’t satisfied

with his education. Dave attended the University of North Florida part time, while he was employed full time, until he graduated

with a Bachelor’s degree in August 1983 and was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society.

During his tenure with JEA he moved from Jacksonville to Clay County where he had found his place on the water, in Doctor’s Inlet,

later renamed Fleming Island. This is where he lived for the past 40+ years. After he retired from JEA, Dave went to work almost

immediately in Clay County, for Seminole Electric Cooperative, Inc. He retired from Seminole Electric in 1995, after about twelve

years of service.

A valued friend and respective neighbor; he will be missed by both and remembered in animal history for the many stray dogs and cats

he took in over the years. He will be remembered by his wife as a wonderful caring husband who never saw a task he couldn’t accomplish

or a skill he wouldn’t learn. Whether it was as her dance partner, in three different dance clubs, or to help a neighbor; if he didn’t know how

to do it, he would learn, and then do it, and do so as well as it could be done. He was very simply a man who never learned to understand

the word can’t. He will be remembered by his grandchildren who he helped teach skills including proper manners and love of country, and

who always added God Bless America, any time one of them said the blessing. Someone who never lost his lifetime love of learning, he continued

to read and learn and was a man who could carry on a conversation with almost anyone he ever met. He loved his family and they loved him.

He is survived by his loving wife of thirty four years, Anna Louise Carpenter, his son, W.M. ‘Kip’ Carpenter (wife Joan), stepdaughter Wanda Louise Secrist, and grandchildren, Tiffany S. Carpenter, and Stephen Putnal both of Tallahassee, Olivia S. DeLong of Atlanta, GA, Denise Hamilton (husband David), Stephanie Browning (husband David), and Linsey McDaniel. Also great grandchildren Tyler Browning, Dylan Browning, Paige Anderson, Christopher Chasse, Joseph Chassee

and three great-great grandchildren Coty Anderson, Lila Anderson, and Lucy Pejsa.

Funeral service is 11 AM Monday July 24, 2017 with 1 hour prior visitation at HARDAGE-GIDDENS RIVERMEAD FUNERAL HOME, 127 Blanding Blvd Orange Park, Florida 32073. Burial will follow 1:30 PM at Jacksonville National Cemetery, 4083 Lannie Rd Jacksonville, Florida 32218. Please line up in lane #3. In lieu of flowers, a contribution can be made in his name to Safe Animal Shelter, 2913 County Rd. 220, Middleburg, FL 32068.