Mary Jean Carpenter, 84, of Wabash, Indiana, died at 5:46 pm, Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at Parkview Wabash Hospital. She was born on May 31, 1940, in Wabash, Indiana, to Walter Henry and Edith Lucille (Aukschun) Horner.
Mary graduated from Wabash High School in 1958, and immediately started working for General Telephone Company as a telephone operator. She worked there until marrying her husband Edwin on April 2, 1961 at which time they moved to Birmingham, Alabama where he worked for United States Gypsum. They moved back to Indiana in 1963. Mary volunteered as a Candy Striper and Gray Lady for Wabash County Hospital in 1967 and was hired as an employee in the business office in 1968 where she worked until 1990. She then worked at Krafter's Korner from 1990 until 1993, when they went out of business. She was also secretary to Joe Christle, City Court Judge and Insurance Adjuster for the City of Wabash. She was also employed at the Honeywell Center box office for 5 years and volunteered as office help and theater usher. Mary was a huge Elvis Presley fan and went to many Elvis Tribute Artist shows and concerts, where she met many of the performers. She was a member of Christ United Methodist Church in Wabash, where she served as Financial Secretary for many years. Mary enjoyed bowling, crafting, sewing, crocheting, watching her kids, grandkids and great grandkids play baseball every summer, and most of all she enjoyed her time with her family.
She is survived by her husband, Edwin Carpenter, of 63 years, of Wabash, two children, Brad (Janet) Carpenter of LaFontaine, Indiana, and Jackie (Scott) Long of Wabash, six grandchildren; Tiffany Harrell of LaFontaine, Ariel (Artie) Wischman of Wabash, Caleb (Lauren Jones) Carpenter of Daleville, Indiana, Tyson (Natalie Border) Gotschall of Fairmount, Indiana, Kylie (Scott) Mercer of Marion, and Hayley (Ben) Brubaker of Bluffton, Indiana, 14 great-grandchildren, She was preceded in death by her parents, son, Christopher Scott Carpenter, great-granddaughter, Octavia Brubaker, brother, Nevin Horner, and 4 sisters, Evelyn Lester, Colleen Weesner, Bette Boyer, and Elsie Strickler.
Funeral services will be 11:30 am, Saturday, August 17, 2024, at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Avenue, Wabash, with Jay Driskill officiating. Burial will be in Falls Cemetery, Wabash. Friends may call 10:00 - 11:30 am, Saturday, at the funeral home.
Preferred memorial is Animal Shelter of Wabash County.
The memorial guest book for Mary may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.
