Loelleta Ruth Carpenter

LOELLETA RUTH CARPENTER

April 29,1927 - May 3, 2015

Loelleta Ruth Carpenter, 88, passed away on Sunday, May 3rd, 2015, in San Antonio, Texas. She was born in Hebron, Nebraska on April 29, 1927 to Loelleta Ruth Bowman Carpenter and Harry Dale Carpenter. In 1933 the family moved to Monterey, Mexico. With WWII breaking out around the world, the family moved back to the US, settling in San Antonio, Texas. Loelleta graduated from Brackenridge High School in the early 40's. She attended Texas State Women’s College (Texas Women’s College) in Denton, Texas, and the University of Texas at Austin. She was a journalism major, and at UT Austin she was a member of The Cactus annual staff, and Alpha Chi Omega sorority. Later in life, after raising her children, Loelleta received her bachelors degree with honors in Library Science from the University of Texas at Austin in 1973.

Loelleta married Roderick John Fraser, Jr., from Texarkana, Texas, in 1948; together they moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where three of her daughters were born. In 1956, Loelleta moved with her young family to El Paso, Texas where her youngest daughter was born in 1957. In 1965 Loelleta married Andre Graindorge from Brussels, Belgium, and together they owned and operated Andre’s restaurant in Austin, Texas, from 1969 To 1975. Their son was born in 1970.


Through the 70’s and 80’s she lived in various towns in Texas - El Paso, Alpine, and finally in New Braunfels. She retired from Southern Pacific Railway in 1988, and eventually came to San Antonio where she spent the rest of her life. Loelleta was an intellectual. She was fluent in Spanish, French, and Italian. She taught English as a second language, and received a grant from the Ford Foundation to translate the works of great American poets into Italian. She loved classical music and the arts, reading, and travel. Wherever she lived, she was an active member of Presbyterian Churches her whole life.


Loelleta was deeply loved and will be missed by many.


Loelleta is survived by her brother, Bill Carpenter, by three daughters, Claire Perkins, Laurie Kunert (Jerry) and Judy Wesen (Elliot), one son, Christian Carpenter (Safira), and seven grandchildren, Candace Kinser, Evan Kunert (Dana), Heather Childers (Bill), Thomas Brand, Sarah Wesen, Rachel Wesen, and Antony Carpenter; and two great-grandchildren, Aidan Kunert and Layla Childers. Loelleta was preceded in death by her daughter Melissa Brand.


Memorial service will be held on Friday, May 15th, 2015 at 2:00pm at University Presbyterian Church 300 Bushnell Ave, San Antonio, 78212. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to University Presbyterian Church Deacons Fund.