CARPENTER, Robert Lewis "Bob"Of Hermitage, TN. Died February 4, 2010 at Alive Hospice, Nashville, Tennessee of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. He was born in Graniteville, SC on January 2, 1934, as the youngest of six children. He graduated from Leavelle McCampbell High School as valedictorian of his class in 1952. He attended Clemson College, at that time a military college, and later Amarillo College. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force as an instructor. In 1963, he married Fran Togneri Carpenter. In 1981, they moved to the Nashville area and founded Carpenter Avionics, Inc., now located at the Smyrna Airport. Carpenter Avionics was voted in the top seven Avionics Shops in the Nation 20 times, as well as other regional and national awards. Mr. Carpenter was also personally awarded AEA Man of the Year in 1990 and Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009 by the members of the Aircraft Electronics Assn. He served as secretary, treasurer, and on various committees for that organization. He also received the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award presented by the FAA. Mr. Carpenter was a Christian, a member of Tulip Grove Baptist Church where he has served as an adult Sunday School teacher, Deacon, Trustee and on multiple committees. In previous churches, both in SC and TN, he also served in leadership and teaching positions. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Dora Carpenter; his siblings, Edward, Ruth, Helen, Frank and Ruby. He is survived by his beloved wife, Fran; his daughter, Elizabeth Ann Carpenter Dass and her husband Solomon of Marlborough, MA; his son, Robert David Carpenter and his wife Valarie of Hermitage. He was "Papa" to his four grandchildren, Gregory Solomon Dass, Rachel Elizabeth Dass, Sabrina Elizabeth Dass all of Marlborough, MA and Jonathan Robert Carpenter of Hermitage. A memorial service will be held 1:30 p.m., Monday at Tulip Grove Baptist Church, 563 Shute Lane, Old Hickory, TN. A private burial will be held prior to the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to Tulip Grove Baptist Church at the above address, or to Life Action Ministries, P.O. Box 31, Buchanan, MI 49107-0031. Active Pallbearers: Robert Pedersen, Roy Almon, Kevin Vogt, Thomas Duncan, Tony Wright, Reece Howell, Wallace Wise and Ronnie McCulloch. Honorary Pallbearers: Members of the Friendship Sunday School Class at TGBC, and employees of Carpenter Avionics. Visitation with the family will be Sunday from 4-8 p.m. at HERMITAGE FUNERAL HOME, 535 Shute Lane, Old Hickory, TN, (615) 889-0361
