Obituary of J. Lou Carpenter

Jesse Louella J. Lou Smith Carpenter, 89, formerly of Boone, NC, died in Kannapolis, NC, on Friday, April 14. Mrs. Carpenter, born May 11, 1927, was the daughter of Guy V. and E.F. Smith. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Dr. I.W. Bill Carpenter, Jr., and her brother, Dr. Eugene Smith. J. Lou graduated from DePauw University in 1947 where she was a member of the Delta Zeta sorority. She earned a masters degree in speech pathology from Purdue University in 1949. She did post-graduate work at Johns Hopkins University. She taught speech pathology and audiology at Appalachian State University for 32 years. Mrs. Carpenter was a member of the Daniel Boone Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Order of the Eastern Star. She was also a member of First Baptist Church of Boone, NC for more than six decades. She volunteered with the Project on Aging including the Meals on Wheels program. She is survived by her daughter, Kim Carpenter Lee and husband David, of Monroe, NC; her granddaughter Laura Lee of Durham, NC; her granddaughter, Kathryn Lee Strup and husband Nathan, and great-grandson, Bo William Strup, of Greensboro, NC. She is also survived by daughters Carol Carpenter Stoudt and Ruth Carpenter Bee, six grandchildren, and one great granddaughter. The family wishes to express sincere gratitude to the staff at the Gardens at Taylor Glen where Mrs. Carpenter resided since 2003. The family will receive friends at 10:30am on Tuesday, April 18 at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel in Boone, NC. A service will be held at the funeral home at 11 oclock. Graveside services will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Watauga County Project on Aging Meals on Wheels program, 132 Poplar Grove Connector, Suite A, Boone, NC 28607, or Crossnore School & Childrens Home, P.O. Box 249, Crossnore, NC 28616. Online condolences may be shared with the Carpenter family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Carpenter family.