It is with heavy hearts and tearful eyes that we must inform you that Keith W. Carpenter, 76 years young, has left this world to meet with his manager.

The beloved husband, father and friend of thousands worldwide passed away Sunday morning February 5, 2006 due to heart failure. Born in Bakersfield, California on June 9, 1929, he graduated from East Bakersfield High, Bakersfield College, and San Jose State. Keith was a football All American with honorable mention at San Jose State. He played professional football as linebacker and center for the San Francisco 49ers in 1950, and 5 years in the Canadian Football League for the Toronto Argonauts and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

After football, he worked for 37 years in the industry that he loved, the foodservice industry. His work history included time with a variety of companies including Vulcan Hart, Foster Refrigeration, Traulsen Refrigeration, Hodges Shelving, Frymaster and Welbilt Commercial. He also founded two manufacturers’ rep groups, one in Los Angeles and one in Honolulu, Hawaii. One of his proudest accomplishments during these years was the many men and women he introduced to our industry that have made it their lifelong careers.  All you have to do is to walk down a foodservice tradeshow aisle to see and feel his impact.

For the past 14 years he has been an important cornerstone for Wood Stone Corporation as Vice President of Sales & Marketing. With his vast network of industry friends he was able to hire 25 of the very best independent manufacturers’ reps to represent Wood Stone. He also was instrumental in establishing Wood Stone’s international network of distributors. Together, these actions helped build a small unique company into one known around the world.

Keith was a very active and grateful member of the worldwide fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous for 38 years. His work with AA included thousands of hours helping people to help themselves live a better life in sobriety.

Keith is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 57 years Sallye Carpenter, son Keith R. Carpenter, and daughter Kimberly Carpenter Forbes. He was preceded in death by his son Kyle Carpenter.

Memorials will be held at 3pm on Saturday February 25 at the ABC Recovery Center in Indio, California (the Palm Springs area) and at 2pm Sunday February 26 at the University Synagogue in Brentwood, California (near Los Angeles).

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the ABC Recovery Center, Indio, CA www.abcrecovery.com and/or the Midnight Mission in West Los Angeles, CA www.midnightmission.org in Keith W. Carpenter’s name. We ask that cards including happy memories of the Big Guy be sent to Sallye Carpenter at her new home in Palm Desert. Please mail to: Atria, Attention Sallye Carpenter, Room 125, 44-300 San Pasqual Ave., Palm Desert, CA 92260.

**Please forward this page to anyone that may have been connected to the Big Guy**

Click on Images to Enlarge and View Entire Photo!

Click on Images to Enlarge and View Entire Photo!