Marine Lance Cpl. Andrew Carpenter

September 28, 1983 - February 19, 2011

Marine Lance Cpl. Andrew Carpenter, age 27, of Columbia, husband of Crissie (Ponder) Carpenter, and the son of Kevin & Cindy Carpenter, passed away on Saturday, February 19, 2011 at Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany after suffering a gun shot wound while on patrol in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan while serving our country.

Funeral Services for Lance Cpl. Andrew Carpenter will be held on Monday, February 28, 2011 in the chapel of Heritage Funeral Home in Columbia, Tennessee at 2:00 PM, with Rev. Gary Wedgewood officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends on Saturday from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM, on Sunday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and on Monday at 10:00 AM until service time at 2:00 PM. Heritage Funeral Home and the United States Marine Corp are serving the Carpenter family during this very difficult time.

A native of Charlotte, Michigan, he was the son of Kevin Carpenter and Cindy (Kikendall) Carpenter. He was a 2002 graduate of Columbia Central High School and furthered his education at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. With a deep love for his country, he joined the United States Marines in September, 2007; where was a member of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. If you did not have the pleasure of meeting Andrew, then just think of the nicest, warmest, and most fun loving person you know and multiply that by ten and you will have a general idea of the type of person Andrew was.

As his family reminisced about his life, with smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes, the fond memories and the important role he played in each of their lives was evident.
Not only was he important to his family, but to his many, many friends and to his community as well. He worked with the YMCA as a Site Director for the After School Program for the Fun Club. The director of the YMCA stated that, “all the kids loved him and he definitely made a huge impact on the kids. He was always fun to be with and was a team player.”

Andrew’s love for life afforded him the opportunity to be involved in many things as he had varying interests. He enjoyed music and movies. One of his sister’s favorite gifts she has ever received was a compilation of his favorite music that he put together for her. Perhaps his love for music came from the fact that he played trombone with Central High School’s marching band; which incidentally they won the state championship in his senior year. He enjoyed movies, and collected action figures of wrestlers, played golf, soccer, and paintball. From childhood, he loved Batman and this love continued into his adult years. He would often dress up as Batman for the kids and bring them joy and excitement with his own love for the character.

When Crissie was asked if he had a motto that he lived by, she quickly replied in unison with his mother, “It is what it is.” His contagious smile will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends. Speaking of friends, when he met someone who seemed like they didn’t want to be friends with Andrew, they quickly changed their mind when they realized that he was a friend to all…always doing anything and everything he could for anyone. He was also involved with the Southern Gentlemen’s Association, and the Boy Scouts of America.

As his father was talking about how happy Andrew always was, he mentioned that the happiest day of his life was when he married the love of his life, Crissie. Crissie said that she shared that love with their nephew Caleb because Andrew simply adored Caleb. The family even has a picture of Andrew crawling in the playpen with Caleb to play with him. Andrew’s mother said, “Caleb was his best bud in life!” Although Andrew’s life was so short, he truly enjoyed every bit of his 27 years here on this earth.

In addition to his wife Crissie, Andrew left behind to cherish his memory his parents: Kevin and Cindy (Kikendall) Carpenter of Columbia, TN; two sisters: Jamie (Tom) King of Columbia, TN, and Katrina (Michael) Kutzleb of Aurora, CO; his loving nephew Caleb King of Columbia, TN and his precious niece Marissa Kutzleb of Aurora, CO; his mother and father-in-law of which he was so close, Jon and Robbie (Lane) Ponder of Dickson, TN; two grandmother-in-laws: Doris Lane and Dorothy Ponder both of Dickson, TN and his grandmother Shirley Carpenter of Lansing, MI; two sister-in-laws: Carrie & Cassie Ponder both of Dickson, TN; and his brother-in-law Jonathan Ponder of Dickson, TN.

A special mention, Andrew and Crissie were anxiously awaiting the arrival of their soon-to-be born son, Landon Paul Carpenter. As Crissie said, “he isn’t here yet, right now he’s still in heaven with Andrew.”

He was preceded in death by his uncle Michael Kikendall, grandparents: Edward Carpenter, Bud & Jenny Kikendall, and two grandfather-in-laws: Paul Ponder and Robert Lane.

The United States Marine Corp will serve as pallbearers.

Honorary Pallbearers will include Joseph Davis, Joshua Davis, Jason Sykes, Nick Harmon, Nick Davis, and Matthew Dodd.

Memorials may be made to Andrew and Crissie’s unborn son; “Landon’s Fund” You may make donations at any Regions Bank in Middle Tennessee.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.heritage-fhcs.com