Richard L. “Dick” Carpenter, age 75, Pleasanton, Kansas died Thursday, September 17, 2020. He was born on August 12, 1945 in Boicourt, Kansas the son of Harold Frank and Clara Fern (Rhynerson) Carpenter. He graduated from Pleasanton High School in the Class of 1963. He then attended Pittsburg State University earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. Dick was united in marriage to Sandi Cox on August 12, 1967.
He proudly served his country in the Army National Guard. While in high school Dick worked for Smith Miller, a company he would later own. He divested of Smith Miller and pursued an opportunity with Southern Railroad Services. He later founded and was current CEO of R.L.C., Incorporated an automated storage and retrieval system company. Family was the most important thing in Dick’s life. He was a pilot, enjoyed fishing, hunting, golf and motorcycles, he thoroughly enjoyed teaching his children and grandchildren how to follow in his footsteps in all of those hobbies. He shared his love of motorcycles with many by opening the exhibit in Pleasanton, Carpenters’ Ol’ Iron.
Dick was a community minded man. He was the current President of the Pleasanton USD 344 School Board. He was a member of over 50 years of the Mound City Lodge No. 33 of Mound City, KS, a member of the Scottish Rite Temple in Fort Scott, Kansas and a member of the Mirza Shriners. He was a coach of numerous little league teams through the years. He was proud to fund the renovation of the R.L.C., Inc. ball field in Pleasanton.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Fern, father in law, Waldon Cox, and a twin brother Robert “Bob” Carpenter. Dick is survived by his wife, Sandi, mother in law, Joan Cox, three sons, Chad Carpenter (Tonya), Chase Carpenter (Tara), and Chane Carpenter, step-daughter Jane Orr, two sisters, Joyce Hazelbaker (Mike), and Carol Wortman, grandchildren, Jyllian, Ryker, Bradley, Kadence, Kanyon, Jordan Orr, and London Orr-Thompson, one great grandchild, Halle Baker and two sister in laws, Shelli Schoenhals, and Sherri Coffman-Neal (Mike).
Funeral Service will be 11 am Wednesday, September 23, 2020 at the Pleasanton High School Gymnasium. Mask wearing is suggested. Burial will be in the Pleasanton Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 pm Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel. Dick will lie in state from 9 am Tuesday until the conclusion of visitation. Contributions are suggested to the Richard Carpenter Memorial, to be used for charities selected by the family, c/o Schneider Funeral Home, P.O. Box 525, Pleasanton, Kansas 66075. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.
