ROCKLAND — Barbara A. Carpenter, 88, wife of the late Melvin E. Carpenter, died peacefully Dec. 25, 2014, after a long period of declining health, at the Knox Center for Long term Care.

Born in Augusta on Jan. 19, 1926, she was the daughter of Ambrose and Bernice (Farris) Lynch. Barbara attended Augusta schools and was a 1944 graduate of Cony High School. She attended Gorham State Teachers College from 1944-1946 and worked during college as a waitress at the Forrest Hill House in Kennebunkport.

Barbara met her future husband at her college's Valentine's Day dance in 1946. They were married Nov. 21, 1946, in Augusta. After their marriage they resided in Muncy, Pa., until 1950. While her husband was attending college they lived in Roxbury, Mass., and in Bath and Brunswick before finally settling in Rockland in 1952.

She was a volunteer nurse’s aid at Knox County General Hospital in the early 1960s, a substitute teacher in Maine School Administrative District 5 from 1959-1969, mostly at Owls Head Central School and for Mildred Merrill's special education class at McLain School, a volunteer with Meals on Wheels, a volunteer for the AIO soup kitchen and she answered phones for her husband's business, Carpenter Funeral Home, for many years.

Barbara was a member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, a member and past president of the Shakespeare Society, a member of the United Methodist Women, a member of the Renewal Group, a member of the Owls Head Extension and Circle of Friends. She was a season ticket holder for the Rockland District High School boys' basketball team for many years.

Barbara enjoyed traveling, playing cards and going out to breakfast and lunch with her many friends. Barbara also enjoyed the performing arts and attended many events at the Ogunquit Playhouse and the Theatre at Monmouth. She was an ardent student of history and genealogy and was extremely proud of being part of the greatest generation.

Predeceased by her husband in 1996, Barbara is survived by three sons, Jeffery M. Carpenter and his wife, Denise, of Largo, Fla., Philip E. Carpenter and his wife, Carolyn, of Vandalia, Ohio, and Andrew B. Carpenter and his wife, Darla, of Owls Head; a daughter, Carolyn A. Depp and her husband, James, of Gulfport, Fla.; a sister, Gloria Verrill of Winthrop; a sister-in-law, Betty Dugan of Muncy, Pa.; 11 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren and two nephews.

There will be no hours of visitation. A private interment will be held at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made in Barbara's memory to the Pope Memorial Humane Society of Knox County, P.O. Box 1294, Rockland, ME 04841.