Clyde John “Jack” Carpenter, 78, of Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, at The Palms of Punta Gorda, Fla.

He was born March 22, 1934, in Connersville, Ind., and was the son of Margaret “Peg” Carpenter.

Jack grew up in Anderson, Ind. He resided for the past 16 years in Punta Gorda, with his wife of 48 years, Marilyn. Jack graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. He served in the U.S. Army for four years, where he received a number of sharpshooter commendations and spent two years overseas in Poitiers, France. Jack worked as Branch Manager for General Electric Credit Corporation, as well as a Sales Representative and Manager for a number of businesses. He married Marilyn Gay Carter Ackerman on March 27, 1964, in Anderson. The family resided in a number of cities in the Southeast, such as Columbia, S.C.; Atlanta, Ga.; and Charlotte, Henderson, and Raleigh, N.C. Jack’s favorite activities were fishing and hunting. Another sport he excelled at was golf, where he scored three holes-in-one in his lifetime. For 15 years, Jack was a member of the Punta Gorda Elks Club. He always wanted to leave the world a little better than he found it. A perfect example of this is all the signs at Seminole Lakes Country Club and Subdivision. During his retirement years, Jack would paint and repaint the golf and street signs in the neighborhood.

A devoted family man, Jack is survived by his wife, Marilyn Gay Carpenter; sons, Gregory Carter (Shellie) Ackerman of Varnville, S.C., Jeffery Lee (Linda) Ackerman of Irmo, S.C., and Anthony Keith (Coconut) Ackerman of Columbia; daughter, Karen Lynn Carpenter of Naples, Fla.; and grandchildren, Jason, Johnathan, Justin and Ashleigh Ackerman. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Kathy Ann Carpenter.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4, 2013, in the chapel at Kays-Ponger & Uselton Funeral Home, 635 E. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda, with the Rev. Tim Stewart as the officiating minister. The family will receive friends immediately following the service.

Memorials in his memory may be made to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Road, Second Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814; or Burnt Store Road Presbyterian Church. Please visit the online tribute for Clyde John “Jack” Carpenter at www.kays-ponger.com.

Arrangements are by Kays-Ponger & Uselton Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Punta Gorda Chapel.