Graveside service for Ronald "Ronnie" Hightower Carpenter, Sr., 81 of Vidalia, LA will be held at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Natchez, MS on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at 10AM with Bro. Tony Ganey officiating, under the direction of Young's Funeral Home Vidalia.
Ronnie was born on Tuesday, March 04, 1941 in Springhill, LA passed away on Saturday, April 23, 2022 in Vidalia, LA. He moved to the Natchez/Vidalia area when he was a young boy. He attended Vidalia High School where he was an outstanding football player for the early Vidalia Vikings.
After graduation, he worked at The International Paper Company in Natchez for a few years and then began his career as a letter carrier for the post office in Vidalia. He loved the interaction with his mail patrons and being outdoors.
Ronnie served in the United States Army Reserves and formed lasting relationships with many men.
After retiring from his 32 year career with the postal service, he fulfilled his dream of fishing every single day. He even earned the self-appointed title of the "White Perch King of the Bursley Bayou." After several months of fishing he became restless and we began Meyers Bend Nursery near Harrisonburg, LA.
Ronnie was a self-taught nurseryman and landscaper and this vocation suited him perfectly. He was in his element buying, selling, and growing plants and was quite successful. Mrs. Jane, his wife, teased him saying that people finally bought from him so he would quit talking and they could leave. Due to health problems the nursery closed and in 2007 him and his wife moved to Vidalia.
He began walking the riverwalks in Vidalia and Natchez and never met a stranger. In fact, it would infuriate him to speak to someone and they would not speak back. Ronnie changed his title from the fishing king to the "L.S.U. Walking Man". He was very seldom seen without his L.S.U. cap. In fact, the nurses and staff at Riverbridge soon learned not to remove his hat for long in the hospital.
Ronnie loved his family first and foremost, God, his pets, and anything outside. He was an avid sports fan, especially if it involved L.S.U.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Hightower Carpenter and Lavorice Bamburg Carpenter.
Ronnie leaves behind his wife of 34 years, Jane Carpenter of Vidalia, LA; two sons, Ronny Carpenter & his wife Debbie of Ferriday, LA and Josh Boughton of Alexandria, LA; two daughters, Ashley Carpenter Carlock & her husband Jason of Clinton, MS and Lauren Boughton of Vidalia, LA; sister, Larita Tennant of Tyler, TX; grandchildren, Katie Carpenter, Emily Carpenter, Hayden Lindsey, Ryan Lindsey all of Natchez, MS, Jack Carlock, Sophie Carlock, and Harrison Carlock all of Clinton, MS; great-granddaughter, Kaelyn Carpenter; special nieces, Debra Vance Sober & her husband Butch of Rogue River, OR and Laurie McIntire & her husband Terry of Camden, NC; nephew, David Tennant of Tyler, TX; sister-in-law, Julie Cockerham & her husband Timmy of Jonesboro, LA; brother-in-law, Randy Boughton & his wife Trish of Baton Rouge, LA; and his beloved pets, Tootie, Bella, Bailey, and four kitty cats.
Those honoring Ronnie as pallbearers will be Ronny Carpenter, Jr., Hayden Lindsey, Ryan Lindsey, Josh Boughton, Randy Boughton, and Timmy Cockerham.
The family would like to express how thankful they are for the entire staff of Riverbridge Specialty Hospital for their care during his 6 weeks stay. The compassion, dignity, and respect they all showed him and also always there informing the family of his condition daily and comforting them. We appreciate every one of you from the bottom of our hearts!
The family will received friends at Young's Funeral Home in Vidalia on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 from 5PM until 8PM.
The family are asking in lieu of flowers, please make donations to Concordia PAWS, 1212 First St. Ferriday, LA 71334 or Natchez-Adams Humane Society, 475 Liberty Rd Natchez, MS 39120. Please indicate that it is in Memory of Ronnie Carpenter.
To leave an online condolence for the family please visit www.youngsfh.com.