Virginia H. Carpenter Carten

Virginia H. “Ginger” Carten, 88, of Manchester, died December 10, 2012 at her residence after a brief illness. She was born on December 17, 1923 and raised on a farm in Rose Hill, IL one of eight children of Fred and Edna (Coad) Carpenter. She was educated in the local school system.

She moved to New Hampshire in 1946 when she married John Carten whom she met during the war when he was stationed at the U.S. Air Force base in Champagne, IL. Ginger was employed as a sales clerk at Leavitt’s Department Store and also worked in the housekeeping department at the Elliot Hospital and at Tam O’Shanter and Serv-Pro.

Ginger enjoyed traveling throughout the US and Europe and wintered in Florida but always returned to New Hampshire because of it’s beauty and her love of it’s four seasons. Time spent in her rocking chair reading a good book was a favorite pastime. She will always be remembered as a good cook, a loving wife and mother.

Ginger was predeceased by her husband of 65 years John Carten in 2011 and by her brothers Rex Carpenter, Glen Carpenter and Don Carpenter and by her sister Nellie Garrison.

Members of her family include her son Kevin Carten and her daughter Cheryl Carten both of Manchester, her three sisters Rena Mabe Reeves, Edna Emmert, both of Illinois and Eva Loomis of Washington as well as many nieces and nephews.

Visitation was held on Saturday December 15 from 10AM to noon at the McHugh Funeral Home 283 Hanover St., corner of Beech St. in Manchester followed by a funeral service in the funeral home. Burial followed in St. Joseph Cemetery in Bedford.