Judith Fowler Carpenter

Judith was born on September 24, 1939 in Glens Falls, New York to Ernest & Marjorie Fowler; she was a preacher’s daughter. She graduated from Lodi Union High School and Pacific University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communications. During her freshman year at Pacific she met her husband Arthur Carpenter, who was a sophomore. They were married on August 19, 1961 in Lodi, California. Arthur & Judith began their life together in Grants Pass, OR where they lived for seven years and had their first three children in 1962, 1964, and 1965. In 1968 they moved to Stockton, CA where their fourth child was born in 1971. They returned to Oregon in 2001. During college Judith participated in drama, theater, and choir. Classical and choral music was something she loved throughout her life. She was active in Central United Methodist Church in Stockton, CA during the time they lived there. She also served as the Director of Children's Education for a period of time, and often taught Sunday school. She continued to be an active member of her congregation here in Oregon. Judith was devoted to her children and gave much her time to them. In addition to her children, Judith loved Cindy and considered her to be one of her own. She was passionate about her work as an English teacher to adults from Laos and Cambodia, for the Stockton Unified School District. She did this work for more than ten years and prided herself in not only teaching them English, but also teaching them about the American culture while continuing to value their own culture. She is survived by her husband of fifty years, Arthur Carpenter; children, Kelly Williams, Robert Carpenter, Stacey Phillips, Jason Carpenter; grandchildren, Chris and Sarah Williams; father, Ernest Fowler; and siblings, Lani Furr, Kathi Chapman, Phylis Graham, and Mark Fowler. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday March 14, 2012 at the Portland First United Methodist Church. Arrangements by Autumn Funerals, Cremation & Burial, Tigard, Oregon.