Bob Carpenter

Out riding his Harley Davidson last week and praying for snow to start his ski season, William Robert “Bob” Carpenter found the angels on December 30, 2023, at 89 years young, as he was surrounded by his family.

Bob was born on August 16, 1934 in Salinas, California to William Anthony Carpenter and Harriet Milades Taylor. Bob graduated from Salinas Union High School in 1952.

Bob continued on to Hartnel Junior College serving in the Navy Reserves before taking a step into the Air Force.

He discovered his obsession of flying following in the steps of his father. He was an F86 pilot in the Air Force from 1954 to 1958. He chased the thrill of flying an F86 by collecting the open cockpit, Stearmans, where he would go to air shows and perform aerobatics. He shared his love of flying by being a flight instructor. What Bob would describe as a good day is spent out in his hangar watching the planes take off while restoring his Stearmans. Bob’s big accomplishment in his retirement was building a Stearman from the ground up; hand bending and meticulously forming all the struts to every aspect of the Stearman wing he named after his granddaughter, Hannah. 

Bob went to Washington State to get a degree in physics, working out at the INL being a nuclear physicist. He was so brilliant, he even went to Idaho State University to get his MBA. He worked hard to play hard in his retirement including flying, skiing, shooting his recurve bow, painting and riding his Harley.

Bob married the love of his life, Francie Lotz, on May 15, 1982 in Reno, NV. They lived their 41 years together enjoying their morning coffee together, road trips and camping.

Bob started skiing  when he moved to Idaho enjoying being on the mountains with his daughter and granddaughter. He served on the ski patrol and was known to eat lunch on the chairlift to maximize his day on the slopes. 

Bob found his enjoyment of riding later in his life, but nevertheless grew immensely passionate about his Harleys. As age set in, and his knees needed replaced he enjoyed the open road on his three wheeled Harley.

Bob is survived by his wife, Francie Carpenter; son, William Carpenter Jr (Deanna); daughter, Dawn Sparrow Clark (Dale), and granddaughters: Hannah Warner (Triston), Ayla Mainz (Gabe) and Naomi Carpenter. Bob is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Clark.

A memorial service  will be held on Friday January 12, 2024 at 11:00 AM at the Manning Wheatley Funeral Home to honor the life he was able to live.