Dr. Gregory Wayne Carpenter, M.D.

Gregory “Greg” Wayne Carpenter, MD passed away on Nov. 27, 2020, at his home in Terre Haute, from complications of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Greg was born June 22, 1957, in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, to Donald J. and Elise A. Carpenter. Greg received his B.S. in electrical engineering from Purdue University in 1980. After graduating, he took a position with Rockwell International where he worked on Shuttle Orbiter Simulations (primarily ascent abort), B1 and B1-B bomber control system interface design. While in California he lived on the beach in Dana Point and was also a co-owner of an avocado tree farm. While working at Rockwell, Rockwell was awarded a patent for Greg’s inventive work related to the digital transfer of information through fiber optics in the control systems on the B1-B bomber. Greg left Rockwell in 1989 and entered graduate school at the University of California at Irvine in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry intent on pursuing a new career to become a medical doctor. He taught microbiology and biochemistry lab courses while at UCI and received his biology degree in 1992. He then moved to New Orleans, LA and attended graduate school at Louisiana State University in New Orleans and received his Master’s degree in Immunology in 1994. He then was admitted to medical school at the Louisiana State University Medical School in Shreveport and received his Medical Degree in 1998. He moved back to Terre Haute in 2000 to be near his family after he became disabled in 1999. Sadly, he was never able to practice medicine to help others as he had wished. Dr. Carpenter was known by his family and friends as a curious and brilliant scientific thinker and tinkerer throughout his life. He built a large family console television from Heathkit by himself when he was just eleven years old, soldering the circuit boards for hours and installing the vacuum tubes. He then went on to conduct science experiments in the household basement including creating holograms of chess pieces using CO2 lasers. He also built one of the first personal computers, an Altair 8800, in the 1970s, which he then spent numerous hours programming switch by switch in binary machine language. He loved to cook and spent hours perfecting soufflés and Thai dishes. In his teens he became an expert in repairing cars and also at riding a unicycle. He loved fireworks and would be sure to bring a big bag of them to set off with his nieces and nephews around the Fourth of July. He especially enjoyed living on the beach near Dana Point, California and playing with his favorite dog, a beloved wirehaired terrier named Kelly. Dr. Carpenter was always willing to assist a friend or stranger in need. When he was working long hours in medical school and the emergency room in Shreveport, he would take time to fix the cars of neighbors so they could get to work. Later in his life he would take time to answer questions people posted on the internet to help them with medical concerns. He was always known by others as a gentle and kind soul. Dr. Carpenter is survived by his sister, Susan Carpenter of Indianapolis; brother, John Carpenter and partner Angie Marina of Terre Haute; his sister and brother-in-law, Elise Striz and Jeff Frithsen of Columbia, MD; four nieces and nephews, Craig Carpenter, Anneliese Striz, Andrea Striz and Leonhard Striz; and three great-nephews and one great- niece. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Donald Steven Carpenter. At his request, there were no services or visitation and he was buried at Hull Cemetery. The family requests if you wish to make a memorial donation to do so by donating to the charity of your choice.  Online condolences may be made to www.debaunfuneralhomes.com.

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