Raymond Carpenter

Funeral services for Raymond Carpenter were held Friday, November 4, 2022 at 2:00 PM in the chapel of Southern Funeral Home with Rev. Michael Curry officiating. Friends visited with the family Friday November 4, 2022 from 10:00 AM until service time. Interment followed in the Garden of Memories under the direction of Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield.

Raymond Patrick Carpenter was born on May 12, 1944 in Winnfield, LA to Herman Lee Carpenter and Nellie Flodale Colvin Frantom. He was raised by his stepfather, Luther Louis Frantom. He was a graduate of Winnfield High School in 1964. Raymond’s graduating class was the last class in the old school building. He was a member of Laurel Heights Baptist Church.

After high school, Raymond joined the United States Air Force. He completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX in 1965 and later Air Police School. He was transferred to England Air Force Base Strategic Air Command in Bossier, LA for Air Police training. He was sent back to Lackland AFB in San Antonio for Sentry Dog Training. In July of 1966, Raymond, along with five other handlers and their dogs, were sent to South Vietnam to assist in the war. He was promoted to Airman Second. Their job was to patrol the outer fences of the base at night. Thunder was his favorite of the three dogs he trailed. Thunder saved Raymond’s life twice and it was a story that he would recall vividly. In May 1967, he returned stateside and was stationed at Fairchild AFB in Spokane, WA where he was promoted to Sergeant. He received an honorable discharge from the USAF reserve in January 1971. Raymond is also a lifetime member of the Vietnam Dog Handler Association.

Raymond returned to Winnfield in October 1968, resumed his job as press operator/dark room technician/photographer/ commercial job printer, which he started as a junior in high school. He worked full time at The Winn Parish Enterprise for 42 years, retiring in February 2010.

He began working as a Reserve Police Officer with the Winnfield City Police Department in 1991. He was moved to part-time in October of 1993. He enjoyed being a competition shooter (revolver) for the police department and was a proficient shooter from 1995-1997. He attended night classes at North Delta Regional Training Academy in Monroe, LA, graduating in May 1998. Raymond moved to a full time position in November 1998. He worked full time at both, The Enterprise and The City Police Department for 15 years. He retired with the Winnfield City Police Department on March 31, 2022 with 29 years of service.

Raymond is preceded in death by his parents, step-father, sister, Sharon Ervin, and brother-in-law, James William Beck. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Betty Joe Beck Carpenter; sons, James Ronald Carpenter (Ann) of Winnfield, LA, and Duane Patrick Carpenter (Tabitha) of Tannehill, LA; daughter, Betty Joe Carpenter Morvan (Eric) of Natchitoches, LA; Grandchildren, Ashley E. Carpenter of Winnfield, Casi N. Killian (Caleb) of Natchitoches, Devon D. Carpenter of Monroe, Kori N. Sykes (William) of St. Maurice, Skylar P.White (Draiden) of Natchitoches; Brothers, Bobby W. Frantom of Garland, TX, and Robert Louis Frantom (Janice) of Houston, TX; Sisters, Patricia Adams of Kosciusko, MS and Belinda Upchurch (Wayne) of Tupelo, MS; Sister-in- law, Eunice F. Beck of Winnfield; Cousin, Rayford Riley of Winnfield; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Raymond enjoyed working in his shed on random projects, from wood-working to remodeling his home. He spent years collecting historical data from Winn Parish and surrounding parishes. He has obituaries recorded from the 1930s to this year. He would organize and file all the information and pictures in a system that only he could put his finger on. Museums, authors, and even one movie company from New York, would talk to Raymond about the history of Winn Parish. Sometimes, he would allow them to make copies of his collection for their work.