Virgil Nelson Carpenter, 87, a longtime resident and businessman of Chelan, passed away Wednesday, December 23, 2009, at Regency Manor Care Center, after a short illness. He was born April 9, 1922, at Azwell, the son of Harry and Mary (Petersen) Carpenter. He attended schools at Chelan, where he was active in football. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and most outdoors activities. On March 15, 1942, he was married to C. Marcelle Beckley of Chelan, at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. Soon after their wedding, they moved to Seattle, where Virgil attended Edison Technical School and also worked at Boeing. World War II had started and Virgil joined the Navy in October of 1942, and served as Fire Controlman in both the Atlantic and Pacific Campaigns. Following three years of military service, he was discharged and returned home to his wife and two children. He built a house in Chelan and purchased Carpenter Island in the Columbia River near Azwell. There, they planted an orchard and garden, had two more children and spent most summers there until 1963, when the island was sold to Rocky Reach Dam. The island is the current location of Wells Dam. He and his wife bought land and planted two more orchards, one on Howard Flat and the other on Boyd Road, where they built another home. They were orchardists for almost 40 years. They also operated their real estate office, Blue Spruce Realty, on Woodin Avenue in Chelan, where they were both brokers. Virgil taught Red Cross First Aid classes, was a Chelan Volunteer Fireman for 24 years, and really enjoyed being a pitcher in a Chelan Softball League (they called him "Ragarm"). Virgil and Marcelle traveled widely, visiting Norway and Denmark, Jamaica and Bermuda, China and Thailand and most states in the U.S. and many Canadian provinces. He was a member of V.F.W. Post 6853.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Marcelle; his son, Thom (Laurie) Carpenter of Valparaiso, IN; three daughters, Margo Howard (Mike) of Woodinville, Connie Hughes (Gene) of Butte, MT and Ginny Beckley of Oceanside, CA; grandchildren, Stephanie Thomas Carpenter of Aurora, CO, Chrissie Carpenter (husband, David Shannon) of Oak Park, IL, Melanie Williams (Todd) of Woodinville, Mark Howard of Bartlett, TN, Mollie Johnson (Jason) of Gonzales, LA, Diana Hughes of Louisville, KY and Nick Beckley of Las Vegas, NV; and great-grandchildren, Zavier and Zahara Williams, Autumn and Madison Howard, Drake Johnson, Zane Thomas Carpenter, Jack and Kate Shannon and David and Riley Hughes. He is also survived by his brother, Les Carpenter of Chelan; his sister, Helen Collins (Jerry) of Woodburn, OR; and a brother, Milton (Alice) Carpenter of Tyler, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Eleanor Harris; granddaughter, Cascade Arnettie Beckley; and a great-grandson, Justin David Hughes.

A Tribute Service will take place on Tuesday, December 29, 2009, at 2:00 p.m., at Chelan United Methodist Church, with Rev. Frank Needles officiating. Private Interment will be at Fraternal Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday, December 28, from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to Regency Manor Care Center. Services have been entrusted to Precht Rose Chapel, Chelan.