Obituary of Wells W. Carpenter

Wells W. “Barney” Carpenter, 90, of Port Charlotte, FL, formerly of Mifflinburg, PA, passed away on December 19th. He was born in Oswayo, Potter County, PA on April 2, 1917, the eldest son of Wells A. and Bess M. Carpenter. In 1939 he graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Forestry. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1942 as a seamen second class. After graduating from the V-5 Aviation Cadet Program as a Naval Aviator, he served three and one half years as a ferry pilot and flight instructor. On May 27, 1945 he married Geneva L. Shelley in the Gobin Memorial Church in Greencastle, IN. For 43 years he was employed as a forester, and district forester in the several districts of Pennsylvania. He prepared plans for controlling chronic forest fires for several areas in the state, and assisted local fire wardens with the construction of three fire towers for observation and fire prevention. He supervised development and improvements to the park system in the Bald Eagle State Forest District. He also contacted private landowners with offers for sale of their lands to the Commonwealth, and surveyed the lands after purchase. Survivors include his wife of 62 years Geneva; three sons, William W. and wife Betsy of Winter Springs, FL, Rex C. and wife Myrna of Columbia, MD, Kim L. and wife Marla of Manasquan, NJ; brother Lee C. of Osprey, FL; six grandchildren, Melanie Beitner of Riverview, FL, Wade of New Smyrna Beach, FL, Lawrie of Orlando, Chelsia, Noah and Ethan all of Manasquan; two great-grandchildren, Christian Beiter, Jr. and Madeline Beitner both of Riverview.