Mr. Dennis Eugene Carpenter, of Montoursville, PA, passed away Friday afternoon, September 10th, 2021 at Evangelical Hospital in Lewisburg, PA.
Formerly of Rockwood, PA, he was born August 13, 1959, in Lancaster, to Ray and Sharon (Phillippi) Carpenter and moved with his family to Rockwood where he graduated in 1977 from Rockwood High School.
He graduated from Grove City College in 1981 with a Bachelors of Music in Music Education, but not before he met the love of his life Gretchen Phares during marching band camp in 1980. They married in 1984 and moved to Altoona where he took the position of Band Director at Williamsburg High School. He obtained his Masters in Music Education from Penn State University in 1988. Shortly after, he and Gretchen relocated to Montoursville, where he served as the High School Band Director, built a thriving theatre arts program, and impacted hundreds of students until his retirement in 2016. Dennis was a member of Phi Beta Mu International Band Master’s Association and the John F Laedlein Lodge #707 and became a 32nd degree Freemason at the Williamsport Scottish Rite. He enjoyed woodworking, was active in the local theatre and music community, and had no greater joy than spending time with family and playing with his two grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his mother.
Surviving, besides his father, are his wife, of 37 years Gretchen, his daughters, Kayla Carpenter and Korinne Jones (Eric), his grandchildren, Ezekiel and Violet Jones, his brother, Rodney (Allison) and sister, Kori Halverson (Barry).
Friends and family will be received from 3:30 pm to 5 pm for welcoming hours and a celebration of life will start at 5 p.m. Thursday, September 16th Indian Park at Pavillion #5, Montoursville with refreshments following the celebration. His final resting place will be in Greensburg at Westmoreland County Memorial Park beside his wife’s parents, Carroll and Gertrude Phares.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation or funding a classroom project through donorschoose.org.
Arrangements are being handled by Spitler Funeral Home, Montoursville.
