Eva W. Carpenter

Eva Winifred Carpenter died at home on October 10, 2017. She resided near Lincoln for sixty-four years. Eva was born May 9, 1929, the third child of James and Ruth Cousins of Tripp Road, Osseo, Michigan. A child of the depression she learned thrift, make-do, and self-sufficiency. Her family raised their own food: garden, fruit, poultry, dairy, pork, and beef. She was a member of 4-H, entering sewing and dairy calves. Her calf, Sepherony, was chosen to show at the Michigan state fair. The Jersey cows milked for family consumption on the farm in Lincoln originated with her calves, maintained by her grandfather, transported from Hillsdale County by her father-in-law. She raised rabbits for sale, supplementing their diet with feed acquired from the mill in cotton feed sacks printed for use in her sewing. Her father ran the wiring, with her assistance, to electrify farms in Hillsdale County as Consumer’s Power brought in their lines. Eva walked with her siblings two miles to a one room school until riding the bus to Pittsford high school. She graduated in 1947. She worked as a telephone operator in Hillsdale and in the MSU union cafeteria while attending Michigan State College. Eva graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Bacteriology from MSU in 1951 then began work at the Michigan Department of Public Health helping to create vaccines. Eva married Winston Stuart Carpenter following his graduation from the MSU School of Veterinary Medicine in 1952. They fulfilled his military commitment in the United States Army Veterinary Corp for the next three years. During her husband’s deployment she returned home to work in Hillsdale hospital laboratory; then when he returned to Fort Detrick she was employed in Frederick memorial hospital laboratory in Frederick, Maryland. The Carpenters returned to their veterinary practice in Lincoln, Michigan; moved their practice to the M72 Lincoln location in 1955; then moved the small animal clinic to Oscoda in 1967. They retired after 40 years. Eva was skilled at planning and organization. She planted, raised, and preserved her garden produce each year. She enjoyed baking, sewing, needle arts, reading, and suduko. Eva liked flowers, raising annuals and perennials for cutting. She seldom sat with idle hands. As a loyal alumnus of MSU she supported her university, and school, financially and the football team without exception…GO GREEN!! She was a 4-H sewing and Cub Scout leader. A member of the Lincoln United Methodist church she taught Sunday school, was a member of the women’s groups, attended Bible study, assisted in dinners, and held many lay positions. Who plants a seed beneath the sod and waits to see believes in God. Louise Garfield Munroe Eva is survived by her son Martin of Lincoln; her son Ralph, daughter-in-law Susan, granddaughter Catherine, and grandson John of Falmouth Maine; her daughter Susan of Tawas City; her sister Edith Kay Brown of Harper Woods, MI; and her sister Martha Brooks of Santa Maria, California. She was preceded in death by her husband W.S., her parents, four sisters, and one brother. Proverbs 31:25-30. Eva has chosen not have a funeral. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Eva W. Carpenter, please visit our flower store.