LACONIA — John T. Carpenter, 80, passed away peacefully Aug. 15, 2018, at the Peabody Home in Franklin.
John was born April 3, 1938, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Mary Tyler (Spohn) and Carroll Clinton Carpenter Jr., minutes before his identical twin, George. He graduated from Shrewsbury High in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, in 1956 and enlisted in the U.S. Army. After his service obligation, he roamed to California, working as a paint store manager and a fire lieutenant for Placer County and Oxnard. During the summers, he would return to visit and work at The Grille Restaurant under direction of the owner, Raymond Lemay, learning the restaurant business.?
In 1967, he met the love of his life, Virginia R. (Duckworth), and in June 1969 married her in Redding, California. After returning from California, he proceeded to adopt his bride’s daughter and the start of a family began.
He worked many years under the mentorship of Ray at The Grille Restaurant in Northboro, Massachusetts, and in 1979, after Ray passed, John and Virginia became the proprietors for 10 years before retiring.
In retirement, John continued his need to be useful and worked at Joyce Janitorial during the summers and traveled the snowbird routes to Arizona and Florida, finding many lifelong friends along the way.
He was preceded in death by his wife, his twin brother, his mother, his father, and his step-father Arthur Dunn.
He is survived by his children, Laurie (Duckworth) Carpenter of Laconia, Deborah and Kevin Calhoun of Asheville, North Carolina, Daniel Carpenter of Asheville, North Carolina, and Johnna Carpenter of Des Plaines, Illinois; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and brothers Arthur Dunn Jr. and Tyler Dunn.
The family would like to express their gratitude to the many friends he made at the Peabody Home. The care and comfort that John and his family received through his last weeks was deeply felt and comforting.
A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date to be determined by the family.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia NH is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.