George M. Carpenter Sr., 89, dairy farmer, logger, maple sugarmaker
and conservationist, passed away at his North Road, Waitsfield, home on
Thursday, March 4, 2010. With his passing, The Valley lost a piece of
history. Born on November 1, 1920, in the farmhouse he called home all
of his life, he was the son of the late Hugh and Mabel G. (Folsom)
Carpenter. On November 8, 1953, he married the former Dorothy L.
Boardman in Tunbridge. Dorothy passed away on February 6, 2003.
George attended schools in Waitsfield and saw his primary life's work
as a vocation in caretaking the land that nurtured generations of his
family. George and Dorothy established one of the original Valley ski
lodges, the Carpenter Farm Inn, which they operated for 33 years.
George enjoyed everything about the outdoors, in particular the
transplanting of hundreds of trees, hunting, trapping and hiking the
surrounding hills of his farm. He will be well remembered for his
concise opinions on most everything as well as arguing politics and
taxes.
George is survived by his children, George Carpenter Jr. of Waitsfield,
Marla Durham of Essex Junction, Ann Marie Carlyle of Ocala, FL, and
Bonita Rae Barton of Barre; 14 grandchildren and 17
great-grandchildren; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family. A
daughter, Judith Wallace (Aylward), a sister, Lettie Conrad, and a
brother, Walt Carpenter, predeceased George.
The family extends their sincere gratitude to Central Vermont Home
Health and Hospice, in particular his nurse, Dorla Leone, and his
caregiver, Phyllis Durbin, for their kindness, care and friendship.
Friends called at the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home in Waterbury on
Tuesday, March 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. A prayer service concluded
visitation. Committal services will take place in the Irasville
Cemetery in Waitsfield later this spring. The family requests that
flowers be omitted; rather memorial gifts would be appreciated to
Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT
05641 (www.cvhhh.org.) To send online condolences please visit
www.perkinsparker.com.
