Donald Jack Carpenter, MD

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September 23, 2012

Donald Jack Carpenter, MD

Anonymous ---- The Tribune Star Sun Sep 23, 2012, 05:00 AM EDT

Donald Jack Carpenter, MD, passed away on June 27, 2012, at his home in Terre Haute from complications from myelodysplastic syndrome. He was born on Feb. 3, 1925, in Dania, Fla., to Roy Lindsey and Susan Elizabeth Carpenter. He moved to Texas as a child and lived most of his life in Refugio, where he worked in his father’s grocery store. During World War II, at the age of 18, he was drafted as a combat rifleman in Company F, Timberwolves 104th Division of the 415th Infantry. He served from June 1943 to January 1946 when he was honorably discharged. He participated in many major campaigns in the European Theater of Operations, including the Battle of the Dykes in Holland, the march from Aachen, Germany to assault the Siegfried line, the Battle for Inden, the Battle of the Bulge and march from Remagen to Lippstadt to encircle the Ruhr. His company suffered 70 percent casualties before ending their campaign with meeting the Russians at Torgau. He received the European Theater campaign medal with three bronze stars.

After the war, he entered Tulane Medical School in New Orleans, La., on the GI Bill. While attending medical school, he met Elise Ann Diehl, a registered nurse, while traveling on a bus to celebrate Christmas with his family in Texas. They were married on Dec. 20, 1949, in Woodsboro, Texas. He graduated with his Doctor of Medicine on May 27, 1952. He was awarded the John Herr Musser Memorial prize for best thesis. The couple moved to New Salem, Pa., where he opened his general practice in his home. In 1959, he left general practice and returned to Tulane Medical School to specialize in ophthalmology. He graduated in the spring of 1962 and moved to Bloomington-Normal, Ill., to complete his residency at the Gailey Eye Clinic. In 1964, he moved to Terre Haute and set up his practice as an ophthalmologist. He enjoyed his patients very much and had many funny and moving stories to tell about them. He was very charitable and often took no payment for his services from those who could not afford them. He and his wife, who assisted him in the office and as his surgical nurse, retired from the practice in 1989.

Dr. Carpenter was an avid golfer who enjoyed playing several times a week with his wife at the Country Club of Terre Haute. He loved gardening and took care of his yard with great relish until the last six months of his life. He had a lifelong love of books and critical analysis, and encouraged all to think logically. Before his passing, he said he simply wanted to be remembered as a fellow member of the human race.

Dr. Carpenter was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, whom he dearly loved, on Jan. 3, 2012, after gently and lovingly caring for her at their home while she struggled with Alzheimer’s disease. He is survived by daughter, Susan Carpenter, JD, of Indianapolis; two sons, John Carpenter, PE, and Gregory Carpenter, BSEE, MS, MD of Terre Haute; and daughter and son-in-law, Elise Striz, Ph.D., and Jeff Frithsen, Ph.D., of Columbia, Md.; four grandchildren, Craig Carpenter, Anneliese Striz, Andrea Striz and Leonhard Striz and wife Sarah Striz; and one great-granddaughter, Sophia Striz. He also is survived by one sister, Dorothy Gregorczyk of Texas. He also was preceded in death by one son, Donald Steven Carpenter.

Dr. Carpenter donated his body to Indiana University Medical School. At his request, he will be cremated and there will be no memorial service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army.

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