William J. Carpenter, Jr.

William John Carpenter, Jr., of Sylvania, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 27, 2022, at Ebeid Hospice, in Sylvania surrounded by his loving family. Known as Bill to his friends, he was born June 2, 1930, the first child of William John and Dolly Stiltner Carpenter in Toledo, Ohio. He had two brothers, David and Benny, and a sister, Carol Rompf.

He lived most of his life in what used to be Adams Township, originally just west of Toledo. Bill attended first through third grade at Sunset Elementary school. In the 1940’s, Adams Township was full of truck farms where all kinds of vegetables were grown. Being the go-getter that he was - at the age of 10 he worked hard in the fields. He would weed and thin carrots, pick green beans, skin onions, and whatever other crops there were to be had. He could earn 25 cents a row and he could do 4 long rows in a day. With a quarter, he could go to the theater, buy popcorn and a “Big Daddy”sucker, and still have a dime left to count and let jingle in his pocket. Bill graduated the eighth grade from Mount Vernon Elementary School. Because there were no high schools in Adam’s Township, ninth graders were able to attend any Toledo High School of their choice. Bill chose to attend Woodward. He later transferred to Macomber Vocational High School so he could major in Aeronautics. He worked all three years at the Macomber Carnival, which was a big event at the time. He was in charge of the tickets and the money. He was also the Treasurer of the Toledo School District Student Council. Counting money was a favorite pastime.

During Bill’s junior year in high school, he bought his first car, a 1935 Oldsmobile Coupe, for $225.00 cash. He graduated from Macomber in 1949 with his major in aeronautics but did not pursue the field. On that same night in 1949 he also graduated from Wood, Wire, and Metal Lathers Apprentice School to become a journeyman of Local 24. He worked on hundreds and hundreds of homes in the Toledo area through Local 24. In 1949 he bought a 1935 Plymouth two door sedan for $250.00 cash and later upgraded to a brand new shiny 1949 Hudson for $2,600.00 in 1950. He really did enjoy cars.

In 1951 he enlisted in the U. S. Army, training at Fort Knox in Kentucky. In June of 1951 he was assigned to the 759th Military Police Battalion in Berlin, Germany. He held the rank of Staff Sergeant and was a personnel management supervisor. While stationed there he was soldier of the month and earned a seven-day pass to Garmisch, Germany. While he was in Garmisch, he took up skiing and was very good. He loved to tell his daughters stories about his adventures and what Berlin was like at that time which drove them to study German in school. He was honorably discharged in 1952, returning home in January 1953.

He first met his wife Gloria in the summer of 1947 on a blind date. Although they had several more dates that season, they went back to school in the fall and lost touch. In 1953 fate, or maybe cupid, tried again! Just home from the service another blind date was arranged for him. Boys being boys… Bill didn’t remember the name. He was game though and asked for Gloria’s phone number so that he could call her before the big date. When he saw the number, he remembered her. This time things were different. Perhaps it was their age or the chemistry, but something happened. Bill bought a new 1953 blue and white Plymouth and over the Cherry Street Bridge he came to visit night after night.

Bill lost no time getting back to work when he returned from the service. He had worked mostly on residential homes before the army but things had changed in Toledo and he started commercial lathing. While a member of the Lathers Local 24, Bill was on the executive board and president of the Lake Erie District Council and Buckeye State Council. He labored for 51 years in the trades. He worked for the George P. Little Company, later known as Airtite, until 1977. He worked in his spare hours with his friend Tom Merritt at M&M Lumber and Millwork for many years, building custom cabinetry. Not to mention all the homes of friends and family that still display his handiwork. If you could dream it, Bill would figure out a way to build it. Then 23 years at Ohio Ceiling and Partition Contractors with the last 7 years spent with OCP as their safety director. He attended classes at Eastern Michigan University at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Training Institute. He was often kidded that he knew the OSHA manual as well as most people know the King James Version of the Bible. There is some humor in the fact that this was his final work assignment when you consider that he was a frequent visitor of the emergency room for one incident or another on many occasions over the years. Perhaps that gave him the experience to know what to watch for in addition to his education.

During 1953 and 1954 Bill also built and drove stock cars at the Toledo Speedway and in neighboring towns. He even received the checkered flag one night at Wauseon, Ohio which was a real thriller. He always raced Dodges, hand built by his father and brothers. What a pit crew! Then came a lot of fender benders and one night he and number 5 were upside down. Gloria was scared to death, but Bill crawled out and waved to the crowd! Soon afterwards, marriage plans were discussed but Gloria said that her nerves couldn’t handle the stock car races. Bill, a very smart man, agreed that racing was fun while it lasted but he was ready to move on anyway.

On February 12, 1955, Gloria Jean Tipton’s engagement to William J Carpenter Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. William J. Carpenter Sr. of Burbank Drive was announced by her mother Mrs. Robert L. Tipton of Mott Avenue at a party in the Tipton home. Dad was well aware of all the parties Mom loved to have, long before the wedding. The wedding was set for October 22, 1955 at Euclid Avenue Methodist Church.

In May of 1955 Gloria and Bill bought a lot on Newhart Circle in the Reynolds Corners area on which Bill would build their first home. The house progressed nicely, but 1955 was a busy construction year in Toledo. All construction materials were in such demand. Companies could not produce product fast enough. Even in the “Glass City” glass was hard to find. Their friend Jim Shelt almost had to smuggle Thermopane windows out of Libby Owens Ford for them. Even bricks were scarce. They got word that the bricks they wanted would arrive in Toledo the week of their honeymoon, so Bill had to let a contractor lay them. If you know Bill, you know this upset him, but he did get to lay the bricks for the garage himself. Bill had so many friends in the construction trades who would come when he got each phase of the house done to be certain it would pass inspection and it always did.

Their beautiful wedding was held sixty seven years ago in East Toledo. The bridal party formed a heavenly blue atmosphere at the altar. The groom was handsome in a white dinner jacket, black pants, white tie, and maroon handkerchief. Over 300 attended the wedding with people standing against the three back walls. After a very long receiving line at the church, the guests were greeted at the East Toledo Club for dinner and a real fun dance. They chose Niagara Falls for their honeymoon but spent their wedding night at the Toledo Turnpike Motel on Reynolds Road, as it was the place to stay in the 1950’s. Big spender that we know he is, Bill even paid $8.00 for a special room that night.

There was no time at all and Bill had the house ready for occupancy. Construction in Toledo was booming at that time so he worked around the clock. Soon it was time for their first anniversary. The garage floor was poured – so Gloria thought “Why not have a square dance in the big empty space?” No furniture or drapes in the living room wouldn’t stop them from throwing a big party.

Soon it was a year and a half later and time for Gloria to retire from the library to prepare for the birth of their first child, a baby girl, Diana Jean on February 15, 1958. They thought they were pretty old to be having children at age 26 and 27 so they took a parenting course offered by the Red Cross in order to be informed. Fast forward to the next year, February 13, 1959 when daughter Deborah Kay was born. At the time, the doctor told them that having two children less than a year apart is much harder than having twins. As Diana entered the second grade and Deb entered the first, their third daughter Constance Lee was born on August 8, 1965 also at Flower Hospital. In the same room as both her sisters. The next day the nurses came in and said, “Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter, if you ever decide you want to have a boy could you please call ahead and we will try to put you in a room other than 363!” But they thought three girls would be plenty.

Bill and his family all attended Asbury United Methodist Church. Bill was a member for 38 years. He was chairman of the trustees and served on the official board for many years. He helped Gloria host many, many luaus for the congregation at the house on Newhart Circle. He was always on one or two committees. He also dedicated his time to keeping his daughters active there in the choirs and youth groups. After retirement he had transferred to the First United Methodist Church of Sylvania.

In the Fall of 1991, Bill decided he wanted to build a new ranch style house somewhere since the children were grown. Just like that he was building a new home. They found a lot in Sylvania. Even though he had already built one perfect home, he managed to make the next even more amazing and custom just for them. A lot of time and thought was put into each room to make it a very special place.

Bill was always very active and supportive in the lives of his daughters. He was always there for all of their activities and encouraged them to try anything they had an interest in. Talent contests, hobby fairs, style shows in grade school, and Bill drove them across town for tap dancing lessons. Then there were the violin lessons, cello lessons, piano lessons, orchestra concerts, choir concerts, school plays, and even their sporting events. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the pool and deck that Bill built and spent many summer days taking advantage of the cool water.

He took the family on many excursions, planting his spirit of adventure in them. That all began in 1954 when he took Gloria and her mother and brother on a cross country trip to California. Being the only one that could drive, he was the chauffeur the whole 6,400 miles. Later there were camping trips and other adventures outdoors. One of the most important lessons learned on these trips is that you must always bring the tent poles! They would pile in the car to see Blue Hole, the Air and Space Museum, and the Pumpkin Show as well as trips to Cedar Point. And he wasn’t afraid to take the three children on long car trips either, to locations such as Niagara Falls, Washington D. C., Williamsburg, or Boston. Of course he only took Gloria along to Hawaii in 1975 for their 20th Wedding anniversary, but he did send each of the girls to Germany so that made up for it! The last big family vacation was in 1991 when they all spent a week at Maumee Bay State Park. There were 13 in attendance at that time, as each of Bill’s daughters brought their families along as well. So many cruises and bus trips and car rides to anywhere he and Gloria dreamed.

Other than just driving the women around, Bill has also had time for a few activities of his own. Outside of work he enjoyed many other pursuits. His bow hunting trips for deer were treasured times out in the woods. Bill’s fishing experience began when he was a young child with his Uncle Bill Stiltner and a can of worms on the Maumee River. He and his friend Gerald McFadden spent many weekends on Gerry’s boat fishing for Walleye and perch on Lake Erie and for salmon on Lake Michigan. The trip to Ludington, MI became an annual thing and even became a family event in 1988 when most of the Carpenter family came with him. He loved to return home and pressure-cook and can the salmon with Gloria. Many friends enjoyed a holiday dip made from his salmon at parties or a pint of the canned fish the following Christmas. Bill was a bowler most of his life. He was at University Lanes in the Lumberman’s League for about 30 years, serving as their treasurer most of the time. He also bowled at Jugs Bowling Lanes with the Eagles on Jackman Road. He transferred to the Eagle’s Lodge in Maumee in 1990 so he and Gloria could dance there every Friday night. Later he also bowled every Wednesday night at Westland Lanes. Bill got into golfing after retirement. He joined a Wednesday morning retiree league with his friend George Judd and just loved it. He also went out with friends at Fallen Timbers Golf Course as often as he could. He went on his annual trip to Michigan to golf The Nightmare and The Dream, among other courses, just a few weeks before his passing. His home gardens were a point of pride. Whether it was flowers or produce or the tall dieffenbachia inside, his offerings were a sight to behold. He even won the neighborhood prize for Best Garden one year. He was a collector of razors and shaving paraphernalia, and his collection is extraordinary. He had a story behind each and every piece. In later years, when duties fell to him, he was excited to learn to cook. He enjoyed exploring new recipes and varied dishes. An ardent fan of the Green Bay Packers, his love was born out of a respect for Coach Vince Lombardi. He loved to watch them play despite the outcome. The family is thankful for his enjoyment of filmmaking with the 8mm camera, as he captured so many fond memories of their lives. He also worked for the Board of Elections, and he used his many talents at the Sylvania Senior Center.

Bill was very active through the years having fun. For many years when the children were young, the house was known in Reynolds Corners for the May Day party. Bill made a merry-go-round with six horses and a May Pole in the backyard. Each year on May 1st, the children near Newhart Circle were invited for May Day Parties with rides, games, and food. That merry-go-round was well loved by his daughters and grandchildren as well and is still intact, waiting to entertain new generations of littles. They’ll have to learn though, “No two feet in the middle!” He dedicated time to the Ohio State University Parents Association of Lucas and Wood Counties when his daughter Deb was at OSU and also spent time at the Chi Omega social events at the University of Toledo with daughters Diana and Connie in the 70’s and 80’s.

More than anything else though, Bill loved to dance and entertain. He loved square dancing as well as ballroom dancing. He even won many contests with Gloria. They joined a dinner dance group called the Canticle Dance Club in 1960. This merged into the Carousel Club, The Reveler’s Dance Club, The Rondelet Dance Club, and most recently the Lamplighters Club. They were officers in many of these clubs. During 2002 and 2003 they were co-presidents of the Westchester Dance Assembly. They were always sure of 6 beautiful dances with “their kind of music” each year. They had danced at Centennial Terrace since 1950 so they were thrilled to be so close when they moved to Sylvania. It was not unusual for them to go out for an evening of dancing there under the stars and then invite 12 and more friends back to the house for dessert at midnight. His homes have been the venue for parties with many and varied themes. Ever since that first square dance in the garage, things just got better. Over 100 people once attended a luau in the backyard complete with a smoking volcano. There have been patriotic fourth of July parties, Halloween costume parties, the Christmas Cookie exchange now hosted by daughter Diana, and many, many, more. It was not unusual for them to host over 200 people at Christmas time. Bill and Gloria have been honored by their friends with the titles the “Host and Hostess with the Mostest.” Not to mention his passion for looking stylish for every event. He looked forward to seeing what beautiful dress Gloria would wear and how his attire would coordinate. He was set on being a sharp dressed man. He touched the lives of many, many people and discovered a lot of joy in doing it. His sense of humor and gift of gab were appreciated by everyone he came across, no one was a stranger to Bill.

But of all his favorite people to entertain, his grandchildren (and later their children as well) were his favorites. Weekends or whole weeks spent at grampie and grammie’s are fondly remembered by all. These were times for another generation to hear his stories and be taught about so many things. Top of the list were manners and how to behave. He gently taught early on, “Don’t touch grammie’s pretties!” If you’d get a line, he’d bring a pole and you’d go down to the fishing hole to learn those skills and more. He taught the next generation about entertaining, or perhaps the fine art of taking an old cold ‘tater and waiting, putting the guests first. And as far as history, no one ever failed a test regarding the 1814 trip of old Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississippi. He had knowledge on any and every topic, gleaned from life experience and his enjoyment of reading. Whatever you needed to know, you’d call Bill. His patience and love and willingness to serve surely are the reason so many descendants have chosen work that helps others.

Left to cherish Bill’s memory include his wife Gloria, children: Diana (Jack) Randolph of Sylvania OH, Deborah (Chris) Johnson of Hilliard OH, and Connie (John) Macko of South Euclid OH; grandchildren: Sara (Phil) Stockwell, Christopher (Sarah) Chamberlain, Ian (Zoe) Carpenter, Megan (Thor) Nearn, Amanda (Scott) Sanderson, Breanna (Kirk) Ostojic, Morgan (Jake) Peer, and Marshall Johnson; great-grandchildren: AJ, Tyler, Jace, and Drew Stockwell, Cole Corbiere and Chase Chamberlain, Parker Chamberlain, Ivy, Margot, and Sullivan Carpenter, Addisyn and Brody Nearn, Grant and Zoey Sanderson, and Elanor Ostojic. He is preceded in death by grandson Matthew Chamberlain and siblings David and Ben Carpenter, and Carol Rompf.

The family invite friends to celebrate his life with them on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, from 2-4pm and 6-8pm at Walker Funeral Home, Sylvania Ave. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, November 3, 2022 at 11am. The family will receive guests one hour before. Burial will follow at Toledo Memorial Park.

Memorial donations may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio Chapter or The Michigan Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.