John R. Carpenter

Carpenter was born in Galveston, Texas on May 20, 1938, the son of Elmo Milton Carpenter and Rosemary Prendergast.^[1] He attended and graduated from Columbia High School.^[2] After graduating, he attended Rice University, majoring in chemistry.^[3] He also attended Florida State University, earning his PhD degree in 1964.^[4]

Carpenter served as a professor in the department of geological sciences at the University of South Carolina from 1966 to 2000.^[5][6][7] During his years as a professor, in 1999, he was named a distinguished professor.^[7][8]

In 1958, Carpenter married Charlene Jakeman.^[3] Their marriage lasted until Carpenter's death in 2025.^[9]

Carpenter died in Chapin, South Carolina on November 10, 2025, at the age of 87.^[10]