Inge Ursula Carpentier

Inge was born at home in Kaiserslautern, West Germany on August 17, 1938 and was one of five children. She lived through WWII and had vivid memories of a war torn childhood. She subsequently remained frightened of thunderstorms her entire life. Following the war, she enjoyed school and her favorite subject was math. Her favorite books were Heidi and Pipi Langstrumph. She had a dolly and enjoyed playing jump rope with her sister Ulla.

She met the love of her life, Rene, while working in the dining hall at the US Base in Ramstein, West Germany. Rene, a US GI in the Air Force, spoke very little German and Inge spoke very little English but somehow they were able to understand each other just fine. They married several months later on April 14, 1961, in Inge’s childhood home and had a small reception in the dining room.

Inge was proud to be a military wife while Rene served his country in the US Air Force for 25 years. Inge became a United States citizen soon after moving to the states, and learned English by watching soap operas. Their first assignment was in Shreveport, LA where their son Michael was born; next to Massachusetts where their daughter Angela was born, and then back to Germany for six years living near Inge’s family. Their final assignment was in the US on the coast of Mississippi at Keesler Air Force Base. It was in Ocean Springs, MS where they purchased their first house on Catherine Drive and called that area home for many years.

Inge learned to sew from a neighbor and became a beautiful seamstress. She made dresses for herself and Angela. She loved to tell stories of how Rene would tell her of an upcoming event and she would quickly create a beautiful outfit to wear. She didn’t learn to drive until the mid-1970s when Rene brought home a brand new Thunderbird for her. It was then that she went back to work in food services at Keesler Air Force Base. She often won awards at work for having the cleanest kitchen and dining hall in the base. Baking was also another hobby and Christmas Cookies were her specialty. She would start baking in November and begin filling tins of cookies for her friends and family. It was always a treat to receive one of those tins filled with her labor of love.

Following Rene’s retirement with the U.S. Air Force, she and Rene opened Action Printing in Pascagoula Mississippi. During this time, they were long time members of Christ Lutheran Church.

Upon their final retirement, they fulfilled a lifelong dream and motor homed over a dozen years throughout much of North America touching most of the 50 states, including Alaska and many parts of Canada. They eventually ‘settled down’ in campgrounds near Lake Allatoona, GA where they acted as ‘gate hosts’ for the parks. They loved this job of welcoming people into the park. Inge grew beautiful gardens in her temporary homes.

Inge lived in Woodstock, Georgia at the Cottages of Towne Lake for almost 20 years surrounded by the sweetest community of friends that felt like family. This summer she moved into assisted living at The Oaks of Towne Lake where she received warm and compassionate care. She remained an active member of Savior of All Lutheran Church in Cartersville where she was surrounded by a loving congregation.

Inge was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Rene Carpentier; mother, Erna Siegmund Adam; father, Kurt Otto Adam and siblings, Heinz; Ulla; and Klaus Adam. Survivors include her son Michael Carpentier (Lynne), daughters Angela Shever (Jim), Anne Dahnke (Tom), and Teresa Fuller, nine grandchildren: Becca Porche (Dalton), Chris Carpentier (Melanie), Noah Shever (Kali), Lexi Cook (Jordan), Christine Onwuemene (Onnie), Michelle Winokur (Bo), John Tompkins, Jacob Tompkins, Kevin Tompkins and six great grandchildren, Amara Tompkins; Theo, Adrian, and Lilliana Onwuemene; Everett Winokur; and Rowan Porche. Inge is also survived by her extended family in Germany.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, October 25th at 10:00 AM at her beloved Savior of All Lutheran Church, 35 Indian Trail SE; Cartersville. Burial will follow at a future date at the Georgia National Cemetery.