Richard Renfro Carpenter Sr., 74, of Brownwood passed away Monday, December 7, 2020. The family will conduct a Celebration of Life service at a later date.

Richard was born March 31, 1946 in Brownwood, Texas to Fred and Nancy Renfro Carpenter. He graduated from Brownwood High School and attended Texas Tech University receiving a bachelor degree in Sociology and a minor in Psychology. While going to Brownwood, he played football for Gordon Wood and loved music & spending time on Lake Brownwood skiing. While at Texas Tech he was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. Richard’s goal in life was helping others. His mantra was that “there are no throw away people”. His career included working for the Texas Youth Commission; Janie Clements Industries and South Park Development Center. He was a gentle giant with a heart of gold. Richard loved music and had a tribe of wonderful friends who helped in many ways after he moved to the care facility. The family thanks Jeff Smith of Brownwood for being his best friend and always being there for him along with all of his other close friends that stood by him. He will be greatly missed by the many who loved him and will live on in our hearts forever.

Richard is survived by his sister, Cathryn Carpenter Harkey and husband Gordon of Early; son, Richard Renfro Carpenter Jr. “Deke” of Lubbock; step-daughters, Shaunna Harmes Franke of Brownwood, and Misti Harmes of Coleman; 6 grandchildren, 3 from Deke and 3 from his step-daughters along with 2 great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, friends adopted as family and close friends.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Nancy Renfro Carpenter & Fred Alan Carpenter; wife, Sharon Lee Holland Carpenter; brother, Fred Alan Carpenter Jr.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to THE ARK DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & SEXUAL ASSAULT SHELTER https://arkshelter.org/donate

Online condolences, memorials and tributes can be given to the family at www.heartlandfuneralhome.net