Lyle F. Carpenter, age 79, of Scottsdale, Ariz., passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2005

He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, “Cissie”; sons: Kevin (Dawn) Carpenter, and Kyle (Shelley) Carpenter; and six granddaughters: Kristine Sluban, Kelli, Katie, Jenny, Annie and Laura. He is also survived by brother, Bruce Carpenter.

Lyle, a true example of America’s “greatest generation,&uot; was born in Windom, Minn., in 1925 and graduated from high school in Albert Lea. He joined the marines immediately after graduation and served as a sergeant in the Pacific during World War II, fighting in the battles of Okinawa, Saipan, Tinian and Tarawa. He was then among the first U.S. military units to enter Nagasaki after the atomic bomb blast there. Upon his return to the U.S. he attended and graduated from the University of Minnesota, after which he began a 24-year career in management for the Buick Division of General Motors. Subsequent to his GM career he became an automobile dealer in Albert Lea, where he was active in the local community and served a term as president of the First Lutheran Church.

Upon retirement to Arizona he remained interested in the automobile business and served as president of the Arizona General Motors Retirees Club. He enjoyed golf and keeping up with all of his granddaughters’ activities.

Lyle Carpenter will be interred at the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

A memorial service is scheduled at Christ Presbyterian Church in Edina at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 23.