Loren Lloyd Carpenter, Sr., 89, of St. Petersburg, and formerly of Otto, N.C., went into God’s arms on Oct. 9, 2011.

He was born in Waverly, Iowa on Oct. 10, 1921 to the late Lloyd Charles and Marcella Bartlett Carpenter.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Clarence (Jim) Carpenter and Robert Donald Carpenter; one sister, Iphagene Carpenter Cox.

He is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Sarah Estelle of St. Petersburg; son, Loren, Jr. (Donna), of Parrish; and daughter, Barbara Carpenter of Lakeland; grandchildren, Paul Vance Ross, Jr., Kristi Kent; and great-grandson, Brayden Kent , all of Tampa. He also leaves behind his brother, Richard (Dick) Carpenter, of Grundy Center, Iowa.

Loren graduated from Waverly High School and went on to Northwestern Iowa University on a basketball scholarship. Loren moved to Otto, N.C. in 1981 from Haines City.

He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II and retired from the U.S. Postal Service. Loren was a 60 year member of the Masonic Lodge of Mayo, Fla.

Loren was a member of the Dillard United Methodist Church of Dillard, Ga.

Services will be held on Oct. 19, 2011 at 2 p.m., at First United Methodist Church, 72 Lake Morton Drive, Lakeland. A Celebration of Life will be held on Nov. 6, 2011, at Dillard United Methodist Church in Dillard, Ga.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dillard United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 463, Dillard, GA 30537, or to Suncoast Hospice 3050 1st Avenue S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712.