Born Sept. 26, 1931Hartford, ConnecticutDied March 8, 2025Sun City, FloridaDetails of servicesA committal service with full military honors will be held at the Randolph Veterans Cemetery at a later date.Col. Donald “Don” Burgess Carpenter (Ret.), Sun City, FL, passed away on March 8, 2025.Don wa s born in Hartford, CT, on September 26, 1931, and grew up in White River Jct., VT, with his brother Neil and parents, Raymond Roy Carpenter and Mildred Grace (Hutchins) Carpenter. Growing up, he was involved in sports, band and the Boy Scouts, becoming the first Eagle Scout in his troop.Don graduated from Hartford High School in 1949 and the University of Vermont in 1953 (BA Ed.). He received his MA in Education from St Michael’s College in 1960. In 1953, Don married Carol Vantine, and they had six children. The family lived in South Burlington and Shelburne. During his teaching career, he taught in Williston and in Burlington. Don and Carol divorced in 1974. He was later married to Margaret Giannone.Don was an ROTC student at UVM earning a commission in the U.S. Army. He had a long military career with the Vermont National Guard. He was proud of the Guard’s community service, notably his involvement in the overland relocation of the Ticonderoga steamship to the Shelburne Museum. In 1974, Don retired from teaching and returned to active military duty, serving 10 more years. His assignments included readiness training for all U.S. Army National Guard and Reserve Units, which allowed him to see much of America. After military retirement, he was involved in many local business endeavors in NY and VT, including owning a large apple orchard/farm for a number of years. In his later years, he spent his winters in Florida and enjoyed his summers in Vermont with neighbors, friends and family at his house in Isle La Motte. He was known for always having a smile and a kind word for others.His wife, Margaret, predeceased him in 2024. Don leaves his brother Neil Carpenter, and spouse, Mary, of Hudson, OH; his six children and their spouses: David Carpenter (Brenda) of Charlotte, VT, Donald B. Carpenter II (Judy) of Charlotte, VT, Stephen Vantine (Susan) of Salem, VA, Susan Willard (Michael) of Grand Isle, VT, Robert Carpenter of Charlotte, VT, and Catherine Sato (Sanford) of Waimanolo, HI, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.Read the story on VTDigger here: Col. Donald B. Carpenter. ...read more read less