VERO BEACH, Fla. — Gary William Carpenter, 63, formerly of Jaffrey, died July 28, 2010 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Carpenter was born on June 26, 1947 in Keene and had attended Keene schools. He lived in Vero Beach, Fla., for the past 12 years and had previously lived in Vancouver, Wash., for many years.

Carpenter served two tours of duty with the United States Army, 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Vero Beach and was a former member of the John Humiston Post 11 in Jaffrey.

While in Jaffrey, Carpenter was a 10-year member of the Jaffrey Police Department and served on the police departments of Rindge and Dublin. He also worked as the manager of Forest Park Estates, in Jaffrey.

During his years in Vancouver, Carpenter was employed with Englund Transportation Company where he was a coast-to-coast truck driver, and was honored for having driven more than two million “accident-free miles.” In Florida, he was an interstate tanker driver for Oakley Transportation, delivering food-grade supplies throughout the state of Florida. He was also port supervisor in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon (Bosse) Carpenter of Vero Beach; a son, Michael Whitney of Seattle; his sister, Yvonne Grace of Southport, NC; three grandchildren; nieces; nephews and many close friends.

The family invites friends to call at the Cournoyer Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 33 River Street in Jaffrey on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. for a time of sharing memories.
Graveside Committal services with full military honors will be held on Friday at noon in St. Patrick Cemetery, Hillcrest Road in Jaffrey. Rev Wilfred H. Deschamps, pastor of St. Patrick Church, will officiate.

To view an online memorial, send a condolence to the family or for more information, please visit www.cournoyerfh.com.