Ronald (Ronnie) Dean Carpenter, 79, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011, at Community Hospice Center in Ashland, Ky., surrounded by his family singing one of his favorite hymns, “My Last Move.” Ronnie praised his Lord even during his final days. He was born April 5, 1931, in Ironton. He was a 1949 graduate of Coal Grove High School and faithful member of Sugar Creek Missionary Baptist Church where he was choir director for 48 years.

He was also director of the Tri-County Choir for 12 years. He worked 31 years for A&P Tea Company and ten years at Tipton’s Grocery. He was the child of the late Charles and Goldie “Click” Carpenter. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Harold Carpenter; two sisters, Loretta Markins and Janet Butler; and one grandson, Scott Michael Carpenter.

Ronnie is survived by his beloved wife of sixty years, Freda Carpenter of Coal Grove; four children, Phil (Jeanette) Carpenter of Coal Grove, Brenda (Mike) Sherman of Ashland, Ky., Jeff (Josette) Carpenter of Powder Springs, Ga., and Brian (Pam) Carpenter of Deering; one brother, Leo (Beatrice) Carpenter of Orion, Mich.; one sister, Nancy Ruth Webb of Ironton; ten grandchildren, Deana (Aaron) Childers, Amy (Eric) Depriest, Angie (Mitch) Crum, Brandon and Mason Daniels, and Michelle, Logan, Brianna, Patrick, and Jacob Carpenter; and six great-grandchildren, A.J., Adam, and Alex Childers, Leah and Lauren Crum, and Alivia Depriest.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Tracy Brammer Funeral Home, Ironton, with Pastor Mike Long officiating. Interment will follow in Highland Memorial Gardens. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Tracy Brammer Funeral Home on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Sugar Creek Christian Academy Scholarship fund or Community Hospice Center in Ashland, Ky. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.tracybrammerfh.com.