Edwin was born to James F. and Effie Marie Sawey Carpenter near Port Lavaca, TX at Six-Mile community.  He was 92 years old.  Ed was raised on a farm in the Koerth community near Hallettsville, TX.  After graduating from Shiner High School, he spent 4 years in the U.S. Navy as a Radioman 3rd Class and served on the U.S.S. Bremerton CA130 in the Korean War.  After his naval service, Ed attended Victoria College and worked on the police department for the City of Victoria.  After transferring to & graduating from The University of Texas at Austin, he worked in the government contracts field for Aerojet General, Chrysler Corporation, LTV-Aerospace, U.S. Department of Defense, and the U.S. Small Business Administration.  Ed also worked as a part-time mechanic at Skinner’s Exxon to help support his large family or to get some peace and quiet.

Ed married Josephine Ann Miller on June 14, 1958 in Waco, TX.  They lived in Sacramento, CA; Las Vegas, NV; Slidell, LA; and Dallas, TX.  He and JoAnn were parents to 8 children:  Mark(Julie), James(Penni), Paul, Jean(Joseph Aguon Jr.), Thomas, Steve(Lynne), Mary(Rodney Chenoweth), and Charles(Greta).  Ed and Jo Ann were equally proud of 18 Grandchildren: Melissa, twins Timothy and Joshua, Jennifer, Jessica, Elaine, Joseph, William, Benjamin, Margret Josephine, Mariana, Christopher, Stephanie, Elizabeth, Dakota, Caleb, Nickolas and Jack; and 9 Great Grandchildren.  He was predeceased by his loving wife of 43+ years JoAnn, son Thomas, by brothers Harry and James, and sister Mary Ann Childs.

Ed was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church since 1969; serving in several lay ministries. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America as a Cubmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster with St. Patrick’s Troop 719 and was a member of the Diocese of Dallas’ Catholic Committee on Scouting.  He received his Woodbadge Beads as a Beaver, the Silver Beaver medal, the St. Christopher medal, and the St. George Medal.  He was active in the Knights of Columbus serving as Grand Knight in Sacramento, CA & Slidell, LA and as a member of the Fourth Degree Color Corps, Father Abram J. Ryan Assembly.  Ed served as president of his chapter, Dallas Live Oak, of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE).  He was a member of the American Legion Post 53 and SPJST Lodge 84.  Ed also volunteered his time in numerous other activities.   

On Friday, November 15th, a rosary will be held at 6:30 PM at Saint Patrick Church at 9643 Ferndale Rd, Dallas, TX 75238, followed by an "Irish" Wake at JJ's Cafe at 10233 E NW Hwy #434, Dallas, TX 75238.  On Saturday, November 16th, a Funeral Mass will be held at 1 PM at Saint Patrick Church, followed by a reception.  On Monday, November 18th, interment with military honors will take place at 10 AM at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery at 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75211.  He will be buried with JoAnn.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the St. Patrick Scouting Troop 719 Campership Fund, 9643 Ferndale Rd, Dallas, TX 75238;  Society of Saint Vincent de Paul of North Texas, 3826 Gilbert Ave Dallas, TX 75219; or a charity of your choice and/or spend some time volunteering or donating blood.  The family wishes to thank the staff at The Family’s Choice Residential Care - Hillwood Lane for their loving care over Ed’s final months and Eastgate Funeral Home for their services over the years.