Virginia "Jo" Carpenter

CARPENTER, Mrs. Virginia "Jo"
Kalamazoo, MI Died Saturday morning January 31, 2015. Jo was born June 3, 1927 in Pontiac, Michigan, a daughter of Albert and Dorothy Gray Vieg. She had been a Kalamazoo area resident most of her life and was employed with the Kalamazoo Public Schools for 21 years, retiring in 1984. Jo was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where she served in many capacities including the Outreach Committee and Women's Circle baking cookies for their Wednesday night Homeless dinner. She was also involved in many, many organizations including the League of Women Voters, Interfaith Strategy for Advocacy & Action in the Community, Kalamazoo County Democratic Party, Public Citizen and Habitat for Humanity to name a few. She sat on the Metro Transit Local Advisory Committee. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Bruce P. Carpenter in 1980; her second husband, Donald MacGregor in 2006; and a sister, Jane White. Jo is survived by 4 children, Victor Hiroko Carpenter of Japan, Jan Brian Hirt Carpenter of Kalamazoo, Paul Gabriela Perez-Carpenter Carpenter of Coral Springs, FL, and Pattie Gulley of Indianapolis, IN; 7 grandchildren, Lori Mark, Galen Kristin, Carly, Lydia Jeremy, Tony, Amy, and Maeven; 5 great-grandchildren, Claire, Simon, Autumn, Emilia and Leland; a sister, Mildred Joseph Comps of Whitmore Lake, MI; and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held 12 noon Friday, February 6th at the First Presbyterian Church, 321 West South St. Friends may meet the family one hour prior to the service at the church. Jo was a passionate and dedicated volunteer for the Center for Transformation where donations may be made to the Virginia J. Carpenter Memorial Fund in lieu of flowers and will assist our returning citizens. Arrangements were made by the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick St.