Fay Pearl Carpenter

Fay Pearl Carpenter passed away peacefully on December 1, 2025. Born September 25, 1936, in Springfield MA, Pearl often reminisced about her childhood experiences growing up with immigrant parents and five older brothers. She moved to Southern California in 1957, eventually settling in San Diego, where she and her first husband raised two children.

Pearl loved working with young children, making it her lifelong career. While raising her own children, she attended San Diego State earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in early childhood education and human development. She had a fulfilling career working as a nursery school director at UCSD, a community college instructor, and a Childcare Specialist at the San Diego YMCA Childcare Resource Service. When she retired in 2001, she had advanced into management and was an advocate for childcare policies at the state level.

She retired to Davis, CA with her second husband Raymond Carpenter in 2001, quickly immersing herself in the community. She loved travelling, spending time with her grandchildren and cats, bird watching, gardening, painting, and reading to the kindergarteners at Congregation Bet Haverim. She will be remembered for her beautiful smile, her joyful, bubbly nature, and her strong advocacy for young children.

She is preceded in death by her husband Raymond and loving grandson Dylan. She is survived by her daughter Susan (James) Peters, son Steven (Teri) Greenfield, and five grandchildren, Melanie, Dustin, Josh, Danielle, and David.

Pearl was laid to rest on Sunday, December 7, 2025 at the Davis Cemetery.