Claudine Ruth Carpenter

Claudine Ruth Carpenter, loving mother, wife and friend passed suddenly, but peacefully on Friday, June 16, 2006. She now resides with the Lord and Angels, smiling down upon us all-as she always did. She was born on October 2, 1932, in Longview, TX to Claude and Inez Fisher. In the midst of the Great Depression, the family lived in a one-room house, but typical of Claudine, her only memories of these earliest days were happy ones.

The small family of three moved several times in search of good jobs. As for many, lessons learned during those difficult times left a mark on the young girl, providing her with enduring values of family, work, faith and commitment that prevailed everyday of her life. During WWII, the family lived in Washington State, then after the war they moved to Louisiana. Claudine went to high school in Hainesville, LA and graduated in 1951. Like her mother before her, Claudine grew into a strikingly beautiful woman. She met, and in 1955, married Neil LeRoy Carpenter, a handsome ambitious, young Houston Wildcat oilman and decorated WWII D-day Veteran. They settled in Houston, TX and raised four boys.

During those years Claudine's primary concern, which became her life long mission was raising her four boys. She became an expert at juggling sports, scouting, school activities etc. She was the best mother and grandmother the world has ever known. Perhaps her greatest accomplishment was in instilling her values and ethics into her boys lives, doing so by perfect example. In 1971, the family moved to Kerrville, an ideal place to raise the boys. There, next to the Guadalupe River, Claudine continued to nurture her family. She became dear friends to many and enjoyed all that comes with small town life.

The boys moved on, all becoming very successful. Soon, grandchildren became a new priority. Neil passed away in 1991, and Claudine moved to San Antonio to be near her boys. There, she worked, played and enjoyed living amongst her now large family. Like her boys, outdoor life and sports were a priority. She loved the Houston Astros, the Dallas Cowboys and the San Antonio Spurs. She never missed a game. She lives on forever, now through her sons, Bow, Bill, David and Scott and her grandchildren, Houston, Catherine, Cole, Holden, Case and Angelina. The world is a better place because of Claudine's legacy. We will miss her dearly, but remember her always.