Harold D. “Bato” Carpenter, 80, of Cowen, WV, passed away at his home on Monday, October 3, 2016.

He was born in Clarksburg, WV, on November 17, 1935, the youngest child of the late John M. “Doc” and Effie Wilson Carpenter of Erbacon, WV.

Harold is survived by his loving wife of sixty years, Gwendolyn Johnson Carpenter; two sisters: Kathleen Berry of Jane Lew, WV, and Betty J. Lewis of Erbacon, WV; his son Michael (Joyce) Carpenter of Webster Springs, WV; daughters Debra (Steve) Phebus of St. Augustine, FL, and Pamela (Art) Poff of Summersville, WV; grandchildren: Erin Carpenter, Katy Snyder, Kara Preast, Michael Carpenter, Jasmine Mohr, Chris Arnold, Ryan Phebus, Mark Phebus, and Morgan Poff; ten great-grandchildren; brother-in-law Max G. Scott of Glade Springs, WV; brother-in-law and sister-in-law William “Rick” and Judy Johnson of Mt. Nebo, WV, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother, James Carpenter. He made many friends through the years that became part of his extended family, and he never met a stranger or anyone he wouldn’t lend a helping hand.

Harold graduated as salutatorian from Cowen High School in 1953 and started work for the B&O Railroad shortly afterward. He spent his entire thirty nine year railroad career in WV, working first as a clerk before being promoted to assistant trainmaster and then trainmaster. He retired from CSX in 1992 but continued to work running trains for the Elk River Railroad with his brother-in-law, Max Scott.

He was a Master Mason and a 50 year member of Camden Masonic Lodge #107; he was a member of Eastern Star Chapter #145 of Webster Springs and #161 of Camden on Gauley, Past Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter of WV, OES; and a 32nd degree member of the Scottish Rites. He has served over 25 years on the Webster County Board of Education and was its current President, and he also served on RESA IV. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Cowen, WV, where he and Gwen were married on July 21, 1956. He was a former member of the Cowen Volunteer Fire Department and previously served as President of the Cowen Public Service District as well as a board member of the Camden Medical Clinic.

He loved playing golf and was a long time member of Cherry Hill Country Club in Richwood, WV. After retiring, he spent many winters in Myrtle Beach, playing golf with his buddies. He was an avid fan of the West Virginia Mountaineers and proudly wore blue and gold everywhere he went. In recent years, he made his morning trek to the post office and met up with his “coffee club gang” at the funeral home to catch up on the latest news. His sense of humor was ever present and he always had a witty comment to share. He said he didn’t want a long obituary-he just wanted it to say, “Bato’s gone, three sets of golf clubs for sale.”

Services will be held on Saturday, October 8, 2016, at 4:00pm at Webster County High School in Upper Glade, WV with Rev. James “Oz” Gray and Pastor Clarence Thomas officiating. Friends will be welcomed from 1:00pm until time of the service at the High School. An Eastern Star service will be held at 3:30pm. Burial will follow at West Virginia Memorial Gardens, Calvin, WV with Masonic Graveside Rites. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Camden Masonic Lodge #107, c/o Jerry

Metz, PO Box 174,Camden on Gauley, WV 26208. Harold has been helping with the recovery efforts to restore the lodge building after the June flood damage and was hoping to see it restored for use again.

Services are entrusted to the care of Morris Funeral Home, Cowen, WV. On-line condolences may be sent to the family at www.morrisfuneralhomecowenwv.com.