Gilmanton----- George Weida Carpenter, 76, passed away peacefully on July 25, 2014 surrounded by his family at his favorite place on Lake Winnisquam.
George was born April 3, 1938 in Minneapolis, MN to Mary Tyler Spohn and Carroll Clinton Carpenter, Jr., minutes after his identical twin, John.
He graduated from Shrewsbury High in Shrewsbury, MA and enlisted in the US Army. Once honorably discharged, he went to American International College and received his bachelor’s degree.
He married Sally Esrey in California and had three daughters.
He worked for the State Compensation Insurance Fund for most of his career, and later became self-employed as a Licensed Private Investigator. He retired in 2005 and he and Sally moved to Gilmanton, NH to be closer to his family’s beloved Camp on Lake Winnisquam.
From his earliest days George served his community. During the aftermath of the Worcester tornado in 1953, at the age of 15, he went into the destruction, turning off the gas to homes and helping find lost pets.
While living in Bakersfield, CA, he spent almost two decades on the school board of the Rosedale Union School District. He served on the Board of Directors of the Safe #1 Credit Union, and was very active at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
During his retirement years he served as Junior Warden of St. James Episcopal Church, as a volunteer tour guide for the fourth grade program at the Historic Belknap Mill, on the Gilmanton Historic District Commission, and on the Old Home Day Committee.
Music was a big part of George’s life. He played piano by ear and the piano was heard every day in his house. He sang in the church choir and with the Golden Empire Chorus barbershop group. Every family road trip included lots of singing.
He was preceded in death by his mother, his father, and his step-father Arthur Dunn.
He is survived by his wife Sally Carpenter, daughters and sons-in-law Elizabeth and Brian Collins, Cynthia and Jon Timson, and Susan and Trevor Davis, grandchildren Andrew, Madeline, and Benjamin Collins, George and Catherine Timson, Owen and Quinn Davis, his twin brother John Carpenter, and brothers Arthur Dunn, Jr. and Tyler Dunn.
Services will be held on Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at 10:00am at St. James Episcopal Church,2238 Parade Road, Laconia NH 03246.
Burial will follow in the family cemetery.
For those who wish, the family suggests that memorial donations may be sent to St James Episcopal Church¬¬¬, 2238 Parade Rd. Laconia, NH 03246 or the Belknap Mill Society-c/o The Historic Belknap Mill,25 Beacon St. East, Laconia, NH 03246.
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.