Betty Louise Carpenter, age 86, of Junction City, Kansas, formerly of Pocahontas County, went to be with her Lord Sunday, April 26, 2020, with her husband of 51 years, Archie Carpenter, by her bedside.
Born September 15, 1933, in Mobile, Alabama, she was a daughter of the late Ivy J. and Pauline Robison.
Betty married David Dickens, and together they had two sons, Dr. David R. Dickens and Larry Dickens. David was killed in action during the Viet Nam Conflict. Following David’s death, Betty met and married Archie Carpenter at Fort Riley, Kansas, in 1969. Archie loved and raised the boys as his own.
Archie served in the United States Army, and during his career, Betty and the boys followed him to multiple stations throughout the world. Following Archie’s retirement from Fort Riley, the couple chose to make their home in Junction City, Kansas.
Betty worked as a cashier at a couple of stores. Her passion was predominantly caring for her family and gardening. She also worked for the Red Cross for many years. She was a longtime member of First Southern Baptist Church in Junction City, Kansas, and was one of its founders in the 1960s.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ivy J. and Pauline Robison; Genevieve Robison; first husband, David Dickens; a brother, Bobby Robison; and son, Kenny Carpenter.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her sons, Dr. David R. Dickens, (Angela), who is a Professor of Sociology at University of Nevada, of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Larry Dickens-Carpenter Henderson, of Nevada; a step-daughter, Vicki Shinaberry, of Durbin; step-son, Gary Carpenter, (Renae), of Elkins; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
A private family inurnment will be held at a later date at First Southern Baptist Church in Junction City, Kansas.
