Helen Roberta Carpenter

Helen Roberta Carpenter left to be with the Lord on March 23, 2024 after spending 92 wonderful years on this earth with family and many friends. 

Helen was born in Dayton, Ohio, and moved as a child to southern California, graduating from high school in San Diego. A couple of years later she married her husband, Richard, and started their journey through life. Richard's career kept them moving from southern California to Alaska to Bogata, Columbia, and, finally, to Texas. Helen stayed busy raising her children, Mike and Karen, and working in banking, as a medical secretary in California, Alaska, and Texas, and as librarian for two years at Texas Christian Academy. After her husband passed away in 2000, she came to Albuquerque to live near her son. 

Helen was always active in her church wherever she lived. She taught Sunday school for many years, was named Lady of the Year in 1982 at Torrance Baptist Temple in California, Woman of the Year in 1995 at Buchner Children's Ranch, and helped establish and run the Sharing the Harvest program at First Baptist Church in Kingsland, Texas, a collaboration of nine churches providing assistance to people in need. Once in Albuquerque, Helen joined Heights First Church of the Nazarene and found a home there where she enjoyed the fellowship at the church and going to lunches with friend after Sunday service. 

Helen is survived by her daughter, Karen Schnardthorst, daughter-in-law, Laurie Carpenter, four granddaughters Carrie (Will) Cleghorn, Leana (Kirby) Rockwell, Jenny (Joe) Sokol, and Melissa Willis, and nine great-grandchildren, William, Alexis, and Lucienne Cleghorn, Lily and Cooper Rockwell, Elena and Izobel Sokol, and Richard Willis and Mason Lewis. Helen is also survived by her sister's children, nephew Larry (Janet) DeZonia and sons Gary and Michael, and niece Betty Lou Frasier, her daughter, Tracy Carpenter, and son Scott (Lorinda) Hughes. 

Helen was preceded in death by her brother, Robert A. Cooper, sister, Betty Cooper DeZonia, husband of 47 years, Richard J. Carpenter, Jr., son, Michael R. Carpenter, and grandson, Stephen M. Carpenter.

Helen will join her husband in Santa Fe National Cemetery. A gathering will be held in late June when family from across the country will come together to celebrate her life. Therefore, no formal memorial service will be held at this time.