Shelby Wilkes Carpenter, 88, retired sales manager for Barr Motor Company and life-long resident of Columbia, died Wednesday October 30, 2019 at NHC of Columbia.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Andrew Phillips and Reverend Tommy Vann officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by the American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends on Friday from 4:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home.
Memorials can be made to the Kiwanis Foundation, 100 year project, P.O. Box 281 Columbia, Tennessee 38402. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com.
Born September 30, 1931 in Maury County, he was the son of the late David Anderson Carpenter and the late Anna Campbell Carpenter. He was a graduate of Columbia Central High School class of 1950 and in May of 1950, Mr. Carpenter went to work at Barr Motor Company. From January 28, 1952 to October 30, 1953, he served in the Army – 31st Medical Company, 7th infantry in the Medic Division. On January 24, 1953, he was wounded in Korea and received a Bronze Star, V for Valor, and Purple Heart. In May of 1955, he returned to Columbia as a salesman and sales manager at Barr Motor Company until retiring in 1997. After retiring in 1997, Mr. Carpenter continued to work part time as a title clerk until 2016.
Mr. Carpenter was a recipient of the lifelong membership award of the Riverside PTA and served as president for two terms. He was a Boy Scout leader of Troop 111 for 25 years and received the Boy Scout Rifle Award in 1970. Mr. Carpenter was also a life member of DAV, member of American Legion, VFW, former commander of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 22, he chaired the Ways and Means Columbia Band Contest for 2 years, and a member of the Maury County Historical Society. He served as president of the Kiwanis Club from 1985 to 1986, served as Lt. Governor of the KY-TN District Kiwanis International from 1989 to 1990, helped organize the Kiwanis Club in Lewisburg, Pulaski, Hohenwald, and Spring Hill. In 2011, the Hohenwald Kiwanis Club began a scholarship rewarded to a senior every year called The Shelby Carpenter Scholarship. He enjoyed boating, water skiing, fishing, traveling, and spending time with his family and friends at the camp on the Tennessee River. Mr. Carpenter was a member of the Graymere Church of Christ.
He is survived by his wife whom he married June 8, 1956, Sara Pinkston Carpenter; daughter, Claire (Tommy) Vann of Fayetteville; son, David (Diane) Carpenter of Spring Hill; grandchildren, W. Shelby Carpenter, Hunter Vann, Scott (Tammy) Vann, Spencer Carpenter; sister; Christine Pigg; and several nieces & nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Norman Carpenter.
Active pallbearers will be Shelby Carpenter, Hunter Vann, Scott Vann, Spencer Carpenter, Gene Barr, James Barr, Walt Robinson, and John Carpenter. Honorary pallbearers will be Alan McCready, Dr. Bob Wilhite David Wise, past employees of Barr Motor Company, members of Kiwanis Club of Columbia, past members of Boy Scout Troop 111, Kyle Patrick, Chris Fogg, and Kent Freeman.
The family would like to express a special thanks to the staff of NHC of Columbia and staff of Avalon Hospice.
