Vivian Carpenter

Vivian A. Carpenter, 91 of Battle Creek, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 3, 2013.  She was born January 6, 1922 in Stoneville, South Dakota, the daughter of Floyd James and Thora Marie (Johnson) Grinnell. She was a graduate of Olivet High School, worked at the Kellogg Company for several years and retired from Eaton Corporation. Her greatest endeavor was to care for her family. Mrs. Carpenter had been a member of Baseline United Methodist Church, Bellevue Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church. She had a heart for children and spent many years serving in children’s ministries. Though she did not have any natural born children, she took many in through adoption, marriage, and mentorship and loved them as her own. On November 25, 1942 she was married to Richard W. Johnson who preceded her in death on April 1, 1966. She later married Donald O. Carpenter on December 26, 1976 who preceded her in death on July 6, 2008. Mrs. Carpenter was also preceded in death by two brothers: J.D. and Alden Grinnell; two sisters: Caroline Penney and Marilyn MacKenzie, and step-son: Brian Carpenter. Surviving are her children: Eric (Valerie) Johnson of Fowler, Karen (Jeff) Newhouse of Union City,  Linda (Doug) Bishop of Coldwater, Patricia Willerick of Battle Creek, David A. Carpenter of Battle Creek and Julie (David) Chenoweth of Three Rivers; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and one brother: Randall (Glenna) Grinnell of Fort Worth, TX. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday at Calvary Baptist Church, 1625 Capital Avenue, N.E. with Rev. Brian Spencer officiating. Private interment will be held at Floral Lawn Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home on Wednesday from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be given to the AWANA program at Calvary Baptist Church.

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