Richard Dwaine Carpenter

St. Petersburg, Fla. — Richard Dwaine “Dick” Carpenter, 83, of St. Petersburg, Fla. and formerly of Ledyard and Howe, Ind. passed away suddenly Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, at St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla. He was born May 2, 1937, to Carl and Dorothy (Rayner) Carpenter in Howe, Ind. He was the oldest of five children. He had three sisters and one brother. He lived in Howe, Ind. and went to Lima High School.

After he graduated from high school in 1956, he enlisted in the United States Navy, where he was stationed in New London. After serving five years in the Navy, he met his wife Cynthia (Elmore) Carpenter from South Windsor. Dick and Cynthia got married March 16, 1963, in South Windsor. They were married for 57 years, until his passing. They have three children, Beth Carpenter of Connecticut, Kim (Carpenter) Clinton of Connecticut and Richard Carpenter of Massachusetts.

After serving 22 years he retired from the U.S. Navy as a E8 MMC MCSS, Dick and Cynthia resided in Ledyard and, while living most of his life in Ledyard, he started his own landscaping and construction business that he had for more than 30 years. He loved to hunt and fish, and he loved to collect model cars. He also loved to talk to other veterans and learn about their time in the service. He was a lovable, hardworking, wonderful and humble family man. Everyone loved him, and he could talk to anyone and make friends within minutes. You would have thought they were friends forever. He had a heart of gold and would help anyone.

Surviving him are his wife Cynthia Carpenter of St. Petersburg, Fla.; his three children, Beth, Kim and Richard; eight grandchildren: Rebecca Carpenter and her husband Keith Leonard of Connecticut, Briana Williams and her husband Tyler Williams of Alabama, Anson Clinton IV of Connecticut, Dylan Ferguson of Connecticut, Travis Carpenter of Massachusetts and Esther, Renee and Zoie Lavalle of Connecticut; and six great-grandchildren: Brycen Richman of Connecticut, Keith Leonard Jr. and Austin Dwaine Leonard of Connecticut, Jonathan, Emma and Anna Williams of Alabama; as well as sister Lois and her husband Ron Hathaway of Colorado; and brother Charlie “Butch” Carpenter of Michigan. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews, whom he loved dearly. He was preceded in death by his father Carl; his mother Dorothy; his sisters, Darlene DeRose of Florida and Shirley Heupel of Missouri.

At this time there is no memorial services planned. Any donations or memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or Metropolitan Ministries, Tampa, Fla. in remembrance of Richard Carpenter.