Biographical Text
Associate Professor Emerita of Speech Pathology and Audiology Jessie Luella 'J. Lou" Carpenter (May 11, 1927-), was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the daughter of E Ernestine Farr (January 21,1 902-September 1, 2000) and Guy V Smith (January 2, 1899-April 12, 1986). Carpenter attended Van Buren High School in Van Buren, Indiana, and graduated in 1943. She was married to Irvin Watson (Bill) Carpenter (November 29, 1923-December 11,2007), in Washington, D.C., who was then a professor of biology of Appalachian State University. The Carpenters have three daughters: Kim Jean (August 2, 1952-), Ruth Ann (October 11, 1955-), and Carol Ernestine (May 23, 1959-). Kim (graduate of Wake Forest University, 1974) married W. David Lee, an alumnus of Western Carolina University and the Wake Forest Law School, on August 11, 1974. The couple have two daughters: Laura Elizabeth (January 20, 1980-) and Kathryn Diane (June 17, 1983-). They live in Monroe, North Carolina, where David serves as a superior court judge and Kim still is teaching at Charlotte Latin School. Laura graduated from the University of North Carolina Law School. She was in the top of her class and was the student speaker at commencement. Kathryn graduated from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Ruth Ann (graduate of Wake Forest University, 1977, M.B.A. degree from Wake Forest 1981) married Matthew R. Bee (May 27, 1978), a stock-broker with Merrill Lynch. They live in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The couple has three daughters: Jocelyn Nicole, Hilary Heather, and Monica Renee. Ruth is at home schooling their daughters. Jocelyn is now a senior at Berry College in Rome, Georgia and Hilary is a sophomore at a college in Jackson, Mississippi. Carol attended North Carolina State University for three-and-a-half years, then transferred to Appalachian State University-graduating in 1982. Carol married James R. Stoudt in April 1988. The couple has three sons: William Allen, Tyler James, and Caleb Michael. After living in Minnesota for sixteen years, they recently moved to Boone, North Carolina. Carpenter received her A.B. degree in psychology from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, in 1947. She then enrolled at Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana, where she earned her M.S. degree in speech pathology in 1949. In 1949, Carpenter took a position with the public schools of West Lafayette, Indiana, as a speech and hearing therapist, until the birth of her first daughter in 1952. During the summer months of 1950 and 1951, Carpenter taught "Public School Methods in Speech Pathology" at Purdue University. Carpenter came to Appalachian State Teachers' College (now Appalachian State University) in 1954, as an instructor in the Department of English. She helped organize and direct the speech laboratory in 1959. In 1961, Carpenter was promoted to assistant professor and in 1977 to associate professor. She was appointed to the graduate faculty in 1961 in recognition of her outstanding services at the university and in the field of speech pathology. In 1976, Carpenter was assigned to the newly created Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology. She taught courses in phonics, phonetics, articulatory disorders, and voice disorders. She also supervised the student practicums in the public schools. Carpenter received advanced certification in speech therapy from the American Speech and Hearing Association in 1964. She is listed in the American Speech and Hearing Association Directory of Certified Speech and Hearing Therapists. While at Appalachian, Carpenter served on the University Committee on Library and Instructional Services, on the Scholarship Committee of the College of Education, and as an orientation advisor. She also served as chair of the North Carolina Speech, Language and Hearing Association Scholarship Committee. She was the equal opportunity associate for the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology; she served as faculty sponsor for the varsity cheerleaders, as faculty sponsor of Delta Zeta Sorority for three years, and as assistant photographer for the athletics department. Professionally, Carpenter was a member of the American Speech and Hearing Association, the North Carolina Speech and Hearing Association, the Council of Exceptional Children (both local and national associations), the Indiana Academy of Science, the Indiana Speech and Hearing Society, Theta Sigma Phi, and Delta Sigma Rho. In the community, Carpenter was a member of the Boone First Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday school and was a member and chair of the Imogene Middleton Circle. Carpenter also served as recording secretary and past president of the Boone Junior Women's Club. She is past president of the Gardenerettes Garden Club and is past president of the Appalachian State University Women's Group originally known as "Faculty Dames." Additionally, Carpenter has held membership in the Rendezvous Mountain Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution; charter membership in the Daniel Boone Chapter of the North Carolina Daughters of the American Revolution; and membership in the Snow Chapter #1 of the Order of the Eastern Star, holding the offices of treasurer, Ruth Esther, and Electra. Carpenter also was active in the Girl Scouts of America, where she served as assistant leader and troop committee chair for all three of her daughters. Professor Carpenter retired from her position at Appalachian in January, 1986, after thirty years of service to the institution. She was granted emerita status by the Board of Trustees in 1985 in recognition of her contributions to the university. Since her retirement, J. Lou and her late husband, Bill, spent much of their time traveling and doing volunteer work for the Project on Aging, and they earned 1,000 hour pins from Watauga Medical Center. In June 2003, they left Boone and moved to the Gardens of Taylor Glen in Concord, North Carolina—one of the Baptist State Foundation's newest retirement centers in North Carolina. Sources: Personal correspondence and long association. -Dr. Richard D. Howe
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