Keith Orrin Carpenter 1952 – 2013

Keith Orrin Carpenter died February 22, 2013, of a heart attack, in Angeles City, Philippines. He had moved to the Philippines with plans to retire there in December, 2012.

Keith was born Novem- ber 19, 1952 in Walla Walla, Washington to Virgil and Mary Carpenter and raised on the family farm north of Prescott. He attended Waitsburg schools, graduat- ing from Waitsburg High School in 1971. He received an Associate of Arts degree from Walla Walla Commu- nity College in 1973 and a Bachelor of Arts in Educa- tion in 1976 from Eastern Washington University with a Physical Education major.

Keith taught school in Mabton, White Salmon and Waitsburg, Washington before beginning a career teaching overseas. Starting as a teacher on a US Army base in Wildflecken, Ger- many, he moved on to teach- ing through the International School Service in Mexico City, Mexico; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Istanbul, Turkey and Kuwait City, Kuwait. While he focused on Physi- cal Education and coaching his career covered elemen- tary through high school. He retired in June, 2012.

Keith was a life member of the Elks lodge in White Salmon and spent his summers in the Walla Walla area, working in wheat harvest.

Keith never married and is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his sisters and brother in law, Linda and Don Mercer of Prosser, Washington; Gail Isaacs of Tacoma, and his brother and sister in law, Neil and Kathy Carpenter of Waitsburg, Washington. Keith is also survived by his nieces and nephews, Peter and Jamie Mercer of Prosser, Alice and Steve Early of Singapore, Liz and Brad Elliot of Prosser and Rachel Mercer of Prosser, Chris Carpenter of Portland, Or- egon and Nick Carpenter of Pullman, Washington, plus 8 great nieces and nephews.

No memorial services are planned at this time, memorial donations can be made to the Waitsburg High School Booster Club or Waitsburg School Scholar- ship Funds.