James Bryan Carpenter

If you’re about to drive past a McDonald’s, stop! Think about James Bryan (Pop) Carpenter who entered eternal life on Saturday, July 2, 2016. He was born on March 27, 1928, in the steel city of Pittsburgh, PA. He worked for the same railroad company in Maryland for nearly 40 years.

His spirit is carried on by his wife of 66 years, Margaret Pearl Wells; children, James B. Carpenter and wife Nancy, Rose M. Redd, and Nora M. Perri (Marlene) and husband Ralph; grandchildren, Annamarie Strom, Mary J. Dryden (Wendy), Tammy L. Snoots (Mikki), Vincent A. Perri, Joseph C. Perri, Margaret M. Goonan (Michelle), James B. Carpenter (Little Jimmy), Melissa Carpenter, Jimmy Conrad, Nicole Conrad, and Matthew Conrad; great-grandchildren, Alexis (Sweet Pea) and Jordan Strom, Thomas Besok, Nathan Dryden, Elizabeth and Mikenzie Snoots, Luke and Landon Goonan.

We were blessed with Pop’s charisma during his 88 years. He loved his family, especially his grandchildren. He always told them that he loved them, holding their cheeks in the palm of his hands while giving them a kiss on the forehead. If he walked past one of his grandchildren, he usually would simply pat their head without saying a word. He always wanted them to know God, casually and easily speaking about the bible so they could understand. He liked to stay busy, constantly building, and building, and building. If he ran out of things to build, he would tear it down and use the same materials to build something new. Did you notice the tan? This man even built himself a tanning deck on the roof of his house. His privacy was very important because he tanned in the buff, no “farmer’s tan” allowed. On a serious note, the man who loved life and laughter is now in the house of the Lord forever. He will be missed as a husband, father, friend, and grandfather.

The Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, July 6 at 1:30 p.m. Interment will follow at 3:00 p.m.

at Crestlawn Cemetery, 2150 Mount View Road in Marriottsville, Maryland. The family requests that flowers not be sent, please donate to a charity of your choice instead.