On February 15th, surrounded by love and the presence of her children, Betty Avila Carpenter passed into the House of God. Betty was born in Blythe, California, on July 28th, 1933. Being from a small town, she came to make lifelong friends. One of her most wonderful traits was her ability to start a conversation and build a relationship with anyone she met. She loved music and loved to dance. Betty thoroughly enjoyed Tina Turner and would get up to dance whenever she heard "Proud Mary" or "Nutbush City Limits". After graduating from Palo Verde High School, Betty joined the Blythe Police Department. She worked there for several years, eventually becoming the secretary to the Chief of Police. It was at the Blythe PD where she met her future husband, Glenn Carpenter. Tall, good-looking with a winning smile, Glenn cut quite the figure in his Border Patrol uniform. In 1961 she married Glenn, bringing her son, Jerry, with her into the marriage. More children soon followed: Glenn Jr., Karen, Keith and Gregory. Her love for her children was unconditional and forever. She and Glenn raised them as he advanced in the ranks of Federal service, moving from Blythe to Los Angeles, then to Vancouver, Washington, Medford, Oregon and finally to Spokane in 1972. Education was extremely important to Betty and Glenn and they took great pride that all their children graduated college. Her children and grandchildren defined her. In 1997 cancer took her husband Glenn. Although her son, Keith, moved across the way from her and her daughter, Karen, lived 5 minutes away, she maintained her house with a fierce independence. She was never more happy than when all her children gathered at her home for holidays, parties, or just because. Recently, it was her great fortune to hold her first great-grandchild, Samson Keith Carpenter.
She is preceded in death by her husband Glenn, her mother Dolores Lopez, her father Manuel Avila, her brothers Trini Valdez and Leo Avila, her sisters Carmen (Mary Lou) Whitington and Emily Hernandez, and granddaughters Victoria and Isabella.  She is survived by her daughter Karen Munding (John), her sons Jerry Carpenter (Carmen), Glenn Carpenter Jr, Keith Carpenter (Julie) and Gregory Carpenter (Lareina), and grandchildren Alex, Beth, Karen, Evan, Glenn III, David, Katreina, Brianna, Tom, Molly, Lizette, Madeline, Jason, Jesse and great-grandson Samson. She is also survived by her sister Mary Rodriguez (Ray) and her brothers Manuel Avila (Sylvia) and Simon Cabrera (Linda), and many nieces and nephews.
Service to be held at Holy Cross Cemetery Chapel 7200 N. Wall St, Spokane, WA 99208, Saturday February 25th at 12pm. Everyone is welcome to attend. Online condolences may be posted at www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com

 Service Information