Louise Carpenter Russell

Louise Carpenter (Carpy) Russell died at home on September 19, 2010. Born in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma on August 10, 1916, the beloved daughter of Mont and Lillian French Carpenter, Carpy grew up in Lemon Cove, California. Visiting friends in Honolulu when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred, she stayed in Hawaii and joined the Women's Air Raid Defense at Fort Shafter. It was in Honolulu that in 1944 she met and married Eduardo, who was serving as a naval officer. After the war, they settled in New Canaan, Connecticut, where Carpy raised two children and went into real estate. Before moving to Charleston in 1988, the family lived briefly in both Cincinnati and Lake Forest and for several years in Manhattan and Southampton, New York.

A volunteer in numerous charitable and community activities, Carpy felt particularly connected to the International Institute of Education on whose board she served for many years. A keen bridge player whose return visits to New York or San Francisco always included rejoining bridge partners, she took particular pleasure in this pastime in recent years at the Greater Charleston Bridge Club. A sociable individual in the best sense of the word, throughout her life Carpy enjoyed spending time with a wide circle of friends of all ages. She will be remembered for the delight she took in her friends, for her fair-mindedness, tremendous loyalty, and generous kindness.

She is survived by her husband Edward Russell, Jr. of Charleston, SC, a daughter, Lesley Russell of Hamden, Connecticut, a sister Alice Nicholas of Lander, Wyoming, and a sister-in-law, Irene Laurette (Lolly) Russell of Lake Worth, Florida, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her son Edward (Trippe) Russell, III and her brother Henry FitzGerald Howison. A memorial service in her honor was held at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church on September 24. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Stephen's Church, the Historic Charleston Foundation or a charity of your choice. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Downtown Chapel.