Ken was born in Bellingham, Washington to Laurence and Vernalu Carpenter. He was the first of two Children, the second was David. While the boys were young, through a second marriage Laurence married Mavis Jones Carpenter. Over time, the family gained two brothers and twin sisters – Dale, Robert, Diana and Denise.

When Ken was 8 the family moved to Alameda, California for better job opportunities. A year after, they moved to San Lorenzo, California where all the children were raised. Ken attended Arroyo High School, where as a senior, he enjoyed being the varsity basketball team manager. He graduated Arroyo in 1959.

For a while he came up to Washington and worked at Bell Boy Boat Manufacturers. In May of 1960 he joined the U.S. Navy. The Navy became his home for the next 10 years. He was an Aviation Hydraulics Mechanic and worked on a variety of airplanes while stationed at Rhoda, Spain and Monterey, California. In Monterey, while taking classes at Monterey Peninsula College (MPC), he met the love of his life Anita Franco. They dated for one year and got married on February 5, 1966 at the Fort Ord Army Base Chapel.

After Anita graduated from MPC, Ken got orders to NAS Imperial Beach, by San Diego, into a helicopter squadron. Being a good swimmer, he became a Helicopter Rescue Crew Man. It was during the Vietnam War that Ken's squadron got assigned to the U.S.S. Enterprise. Prior to leaving on his first cruise in 1966, he and Anita were expecting their first baby. Their baby girl Mary was born on July 2, 1967, four days before he returned home.

Ken made two, six-month, cruises and all went well. However, while practicing at night off the coast of Los Angeles for their third cruise his helicopter crashed. The pilot and one crew man died, Ken and the co-pilot survived. He spent the next three months in Balboa Hospital, in San Diego, recovering from injuries. When released, Ken was assigned to NAS Lemoore, in California, where the family stayed until he was discharged from the Navy on a medical disability.

Needing to make a career change, Ken decided to return to school. The family moved to Sacramento where he attended junior college, while working part-time for the U.S. Geological Survey Department. It was here he decided Architecture would be his path. After graduating junior college, the family relocated to San Luis Obispo where he attended Cal-Poly University. Here, Ken enjoyed school, scuba diving and started his love for golf.  One of his instructors encouraged him to apply to Western Division Naval Facilities Engineering Command (West Div) in South San Francisco upon his graduation. Ken took his advice and got hired right out of school. His love for the Navy was once again fulfilled. He became a project manager assigned to oversee building projects at a number of naval bases along the west coast. He also was a conduit between the bases and the Naval Facilities Engineering Command in Washington D.C., where budgeting was approved for all bases. While at West Div, Ken joined a golf club at the facility and got to play at a number of golf courses throughout the Bay Area.

In 1982, Ken got an offer to become the Planning Director for NAS Whidbey Island. Always wanting to return to Washington State the family decided to make the move. He remained in that position until he retired in 1997. For a short period in 1986, he wore a double hat and served as the Assistant Public Works Officer. During his tenure he received two Meritorious Civilian Service Medals, one for being instrumental in helping NAS Whidbey Island remain open during the 1993 base closures and one for dedicating 15 years of his professional life ensuring NAS Whidbey had the facilities necessary to retain its status as the Navy's finest master jet base.

Ken had joined Skagit Valley Golf Club in 1982 as a weekend player. After retiring in 1997, he indulged in golf and obtained three hole-in-ones, two at Skagit Valley Golf Club and one at Encinitas Golf Course in California. In preparation for our travels, he became a Certified Cruise Director and also took cooking classes where he prepared gourmet meals nightly for Anita until she retired in 2001. For a while he also consulted with a civilian contractor for the Navy, which resulted in trips across the country.

Ken and Anita went on a number of cruises during his retirement both off U.S. shores and in Europe. And, took several trips to Europe visiting friends. Here at home, they traveled to Worldmark (a condo association) destinations with friends and relatives. They also joined a golf group at Skagit Golf Club called the Goofy Golfers. They played golf, and socialized throughout the summer months. For eighteen years, during the winter months, Ken and Anita drove to San Diego, California to stay with their daughter Mary. On their travels down and back they'd stop to visit family and friends along the way.

Ken loved being a member of the Skagit Men's Golf Club. They played every Wednesdays, socializing after golf by playing cards and enjoying dinner together. And many became life-long friends and acquaintances. He also built a great relationship with the staff at the club. He loved chatting and teasing with them.

Even after getting ill Ken would play gin on the back porch with Dean Adkins and Fred Leamer for pennies. He kept this little black accounting book showing winnings and losses. They all enjoyed their time together.

Ken passed away at home, with his wife and daughter by his side, on Saturday, September 17, 2022, after a six-month fight with Leukemia.

Ken is survived by his wife Anita and daughter Mary Carpenter. His Brother and sister-in-law David and Jackie Carpenter; his brother Robert Carpenter; his sister and brother-in-law Diana and Mike Moross; and a number of nieces and nephews and great and great-great nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his father Laurence and step-mother Mavis Carpenter, and her second husband Keith Arfmann. His mother Vernalu and step-father George Moreno. Two siblings, Dale and Denise Carpenter, and a nephew Tim Carpenter.

There will be a Celebration of Life at the Skagit Golf and Country Club on Saturday, October 15, 2022 between 2:00PM and 4:00 PM  Military honors will start at 2:00 PM