Obit of Carpenter, Norman Franklin - Stephens County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Shelly Lynch 25 Feb 2007 Return to Stephens County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/stephens/stephens.htm ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::Ft Gibson National Cemetery--Ft Gibson OK Norman Franklin Carpenter, 81, passed away the evening of November 27, 2006, with his 2 daughters at his side. Born in Duncan, OK, on July 28, 1925, to Norman Elick and Myrtle Hankins Carpenter, his family later moved to Shawnee. Norm dropped out of Shawnee High School at the age of 16 and joined the United States Marine Corps. He saw combat at Guadalcanal, Guam, Bougainville, Solomon Islands and Iwo Jima. Upon discharge, he returned to Tulsa, where he met and married Sue Rachels. Remaining in the Marine Corps Reserves, he was recalled to active duty at the start of the Korean War, with his wife eight months pregnant. He made the landing at Inchon and later became known as one of the "Chosin Few" who fought the Chinese at the bloody "Chosin Reservoir" where temperatures remained at -30 degrees. Marines who didn't die in combat often froze to death. Dad was sent to Japan for treatment of "remnants of frozen hands and feet." Returning to Tulsa in late 1951, Staff Sgt. Carpenter met his daughter, Norma Sue, for the first time and commented on her "bald head" and "big ears." Mom was not amused. He graduated in 1952 from The University of Tulsa with a B.S. in Chemistry. His second daughter, Cynthia Anne, was born in 1955. Dad was not amused when the Nuns at St. John came to the waiting room and congratulated him on the birth of his son. This mistake took a while to resolve, thankfully, no one was seriously injured. He was employed by Dowell, Division of Dow Chemical Corp. for 35 years, until his retirement in 1984. At retirement, his job was "Environmental Regulatory Specialist" which involved supervising HazMat incidents involving Dow products anywhere in the country, often at the Port of Houston. He always kept a bag packed ready to board a Dow corporate jet at Tulsa International Airport. He was preceded in death by: his parents; sister, Janelle Carpenter Stem; and his beloved wife of 52 years, Susie Rachels Carpenter. Dad loved to fish, especially fresh water fly-fishing. He practiced "catch and release" for over 60 years. He had a special affinity for the great and glorious outdoors as well as all of God's creatures. With his philosophy, he could have been a physician, because he truly lived the first tenet of the Hippocratic Oath: "First, do no harm." There are two things his daughters will always remember him saying: "Don't sweat the small stuff," and if one of us wanted a bug or spider squashed, he'd rescue it and take it outside, saying, "No need to hurt him, he's just trying to make a living." He is survived by: his daughters, Norma Sue Carpenter, and Cynthia Anne Reager and husband, James Maxwell Reager. Dad loved Jim as the son he never had. Dad is also survived by his beloved golden retrievers, Bailee and Casey, by Mom's poodle, Laddie, Norma's ARF rescue dog, Chester the Chihuahua on steroids, and Jim and Cindy's guinea pig, Phoenix. He is also survived by nephew, David and Danielle Stem and children in Boise, ID. A special thanks to Dr. Janis Finer, and Tulsa Jewish Retirement Home and Health Center. His 24 hour daily care was usually excellent, very patient and loving. There are too many extraordinary employees to thank here, but we trust you know who you are. Thanks also to Good Shepherd Hospice: Sandra, Shane and Irene. In lieu of flowers the family asks contributions be made to the Tulsa Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or to Animal Aid of Tulsa. Dad and Mom have been cremated and will be buried together at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery. Service is pending. Semper fi, Dad. Published in the Tulsa World on 12/28/2006. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Stephens County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/stephens/stephens.htm