Helen Marie Mitchell Carpenter
Helen Marie Mitchell Carpenter
April 21, 1919 ~ May 4, 2017
Helen Marie Mitchell Carpenter, age 98, a former resident of Marble Falls and Buchanan Dam died peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, May 4, in Wichita Falls.
Helen was born at the family’s farmhouse near Van Meter, Iowa, on April 21, 1919, to Lloyd and Marie Mitchell.
A bright and inquisitive child, Helen's musical talent was evident at an early age.
At six years old, she composed a small piece for piano called "The Stars Play Peekaboo at Night".
Her parents had it copyrighted and printed.
By the age of ten she was playing piano for the Sunday school at church.
This was the beginning of her lifetime love of music.
Helen said that any musical talent she had was a gift from God and meant to be shared.
She joyfully shared that gift her entire life including playing piano for friends attending her 98th birthday party.
Helen earned a B.A. degree in music in 1940 from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
That same year she married the love of her life, musician Kenneth Carpenter, PhD.
After over 40 years of performing and teaching music in numerous high schools, and colleges in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and Colorado, Helen and husband Ken retired in Buchanan Dam in 1982 and later moved to Marble Falls in 1989.
Helen was a very active musician during her 30-plus years in the Texas Hill Country.
She accompanied and directed the Hill Country Men’s Chorus, accompanied the Blue Bonnet Chorale, played piano in the pit orchestra for several musicals at the Hill Country Community Theatre and was one of the original members of The Flashbacks Big Band.
Helen also loved playing at their church as a member of The Church at Horseshoe Bay.
She will always be remembered as a loving and devoted mother by her children, Sue Haga of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Dan Carpenter and wife Kathryn of Garland, Tom Carpenter and wife Julie of Eugene, Oregon and Jan and husband Steve Gulbranson of Wichita Falls.
Helen will always be “Grand mommy” to her 10 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. Ken, her husband of 73 years preceded Helen in death in 2013.
Helen’s family will hold a memorial service in Adel, Iowa at an undetermined date this summer.
Any memorials may be sent to The Church at Horseshoe Bay.
