Remembering the life of NancyPat Carpenter (2024)

Our precious mother NancyPat Carpenter, age 86, of Taylorsville, peacefully passed away on Monday, July 1, 2024 surrounded by her loving children at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center from complications of her valiant fight with leukemia.
NancyPat was born a coal miner's daughter in Slab Fork, WV on November 15, 1937 to George Thurbon and Cora Cobb Thurbon, the youngest of seven children.
She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley, WV in 1955, then attended St. Mary's Catholic School of Nursing in Huntington, WV where she graduated in 1958. She began her nursing career at Beckley Veterans Hospital in 1958, where she met her future husband of 60 years, Don Carpenter. They were blessed with four children throughout their marriage. She later moved to Beckley Hospital in 1968 where she was appointed Head nurse in 1969. Mrs. Carpenter was specially trained in coronary care and was regarded as one of the best trained and most experienced nurses in the state in the field of Coronary Care at the time which earned her position as the first supervisor of the newly established Coronary Care Unit at Beckley Hospital in 1972.
In 1975 she was appointed assistant director of nursing at Beckley Hospital, and then appointed to Director of Nursing in 1976. When her family moved to Taylorsville, NC in 1979, she left the nursing field for a short period to be an at home mom. Her return to nursing in 1986 brought her to Alexander County Hospital. She was appointed Director of Nursing in 1987 and continued there until she moved to Valley Nursing Center (formerly Emerald Health Care) in 1990 as a night shift nursing supervisor. She returned to Alexander County Hospital briefly as a staff RN until 1999. Her final career move was to Davis Hospital in Statesville, where she retired from in 2005 after 45 years as a Registered Nurse. She truly had a heart for caring for others.
Nancy loved the Lord and her church family at Liledoun Road Church of Christ where she attended for 27 years. She studied the Bible and had a myriad of knowledge pertaining to the Word.
Nancy enjoyed gardening, reading and cooking and she was an avid supporter of her children and grandchildren in all of their undertakings. Whether it be sports to racing, she was their biggest fan and always in the stands cheering them on! She also never stopped learning and sharing her knowledge and experience.
Nancy was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Don Carpenter, her mother and father, George and Cora Thurbon, her brothers, Woody Johnson, G. W. Thurbon, William (Bill) Thurbon, Franklin Thurbon, and sisters, Almeta Thurbon Collins, and Georgia Thurbon Overby.
Those left to cherish her memory are her children, David Carpenter and wife Brenda of Taylorsville, Kim Evans and husband Scott of Fayetteville, WV, Teresa Garrison and husband Jaymes of Millers Creek, Greg Carpenter and wife Julia of Taylorsville; her granddaughters, Kara Evans and fiancé Thomas of Fayetteville, WV, Jocylyn, Haddi, and Audrey Carpenter; her grandson, Dekota Stewart and fiancé Elizabeth and great-grandchildren, Noah and Elisa; and numerous nieces, nephews, and close friends.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, July 6, 2024 at Liledoun Road Church of Christ in Taylorsville, NC with visitation beginning at 1 p.m. and the service beginning at 2 p.m. A private graveside service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Disabled American Veterans or any veteran's organization of your choice.
Condolences may be sent to: www.adamsfunerals.com

To send flowers to the family of NancyPat Carpenter, please visit Tribute Store.

Published on July 3, 2024