Charles Walter Carpenter

Charles Walter Carpenter, age 85 (March 31, 1933 – April 14, 2018), passed away at his home in McCammon, ID. He was a former resident of Columbia, CA and later a business owner in Sonora, CA.

He graduated from Sonora Union High School in 1950. A few nights after his graduation he experienced one of the saddest events of his life, when his mother yelled at him around 2 am "Wake up, the church is on fire!" The church was located about 200 yards from their house. It was a large church that was over 100 years old and built during the 49'er Gold Rush. Chuck quickly got up and rode his bike in his pajamas the 3-½ blocks to the fire station, turned in the alarm, and then waited for the volunteer fire fighters to respond.

Soon, a large number of the community was present and watched as the church burned to the ground. The large bell in the belfry melted from the heat. It had been shipped from the East Coast down around South America's Cape Horn, up to San Francisco, and to Columbia via wagon. It took several years for a duplicate bell to be made thus causing difficulties in rebuilding the church.

While watching the fire, a man approached Chuck and said, "I understand that you are looking for a job." Chuck said, "Yes." He had gone to just about every store in Sonora looking for work. "Would you like to work in a hardware store?" "Yes" said Chuck, although he didn't know the difference between a nut and a bolt at the time.

The man ended up being the store manager and said, "I'll pick you up in the morning." Chuck didn't drive and Sonora was 4 miles away. Chuck had every reason to believe that God sent the man because it gave his life a new direction and purpose. He worked in Mundorf's for several years full and part time while attending college in Modesto. He then was invited to become a member of the US Army for two years during the Korean War (Mar 1953 to Feb 1955). After attending Basic Training for 8 weeks and a special school in San Luis Obispo, he was assigned to Paris, France with a high security position at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.

After returning to Sonora and working at the hardware store again, he first graduated from Modesto Jr College and then Sacramento State College with a BA Degree. Upon graduation, he began work for Wholesale Hardware, House wares and Sporting Goods Company in San Francisco.

He married his wife, Helen, on April 10, 1959. They had their first child, David Lynn, on October 2nd, 1960 and their second child, Diane, on Oct 7th, 1961.

Chuck was soon given an established territory and became their #1 house wares salesman, based out of Sacramento. He worked for several more years with them until the company closed as was becoming the trend at the time across the nation.

After a couple of years traveling as a factory representative he finally started with his true calling, the California Highway Patrol, or CHiP. He worked in 6 different areas around the state (from Jan 1964 to July 1988): Norwalk, Stockton, Sacramento (twice), as an Academy Instructor, Westlake Village, and finally retiring from Stockton as a Sergeant.

Chuck and his wife opened the C & C Collectibles store in downtown Sonora in 1983. They remained open until 1999 when they decided to retire again and move to first Inkom, ID and then finally McCammon, ID.

Chuck is survived by his wife, Helen, his son, David, and daughter, Diane. Also by his 3 grandchildren, Olivia, Lance, and Michelle, and 4 (soon to be 5) great grandchildren, Sabella, Eva, Saylor, and Brinley.

Funeral services will be held at 4:00 PM, Saturday, April 21, 2018 at the Lava Community Bible Church, 118 Elm Street, Lava Hot Springs, ID 83246. A viewing will be held beginning at the church at 3:00 PM. His interment will follow at the Norton Cemetery in McCammon, Idaho with Military Rites provided by American Legion Francis G. Fagnant Post #88.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family under the "Tribute Wall" tab above. His family suggests all memorial contributions be considered to be made to the Chuck Carpenter Memorial Fund at any Idaho Central Credit Union branch.