John Albert Carpenter

John Albert Carpenter passed away peacefully on December 16, 2025.  Born in Nashville, TN on February 10, 1940, John was the youngest son of William F. Carpenter, Sr. and Vivian Woodrow Carpenter.

John grew up in Nashville and attended Woodmont Elementary and Montgomery Bell Academy.  John attended Vanderbilt University earning both an undergraduate and a master’s degree in engineering.  At Vanderbilt, John was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Following that, John earned a Master of Divinity degree from Lexington Theological Seminary.

In 1962, John met his future wife, Sandra Sipe.  They were married on June 7, 1963, and celebrated sixty-two years of dedication to one another. John and Sandra had three daughters, Beth Carpenter, Alison Bueschen, and Cathy Johnson.

John’s early career included stints as a structural engineer at two Nashville architecture companies, Taylor & Crabtree and Yearwood & Johnson Architects.  After success with those companies, John founded his own structural engineering firm in 1976, John Carpenter & Associates.  In 1994, John partnered with David Wright to form Carpenter Wright Engineering.  Under his leadership, the firm expanded to have locations in Nashville, Knoxville and Murfreesboro, TN.  John was gifted in mathematics and engineering.  He guided the engineering designs for many of Nashville’s iconic structures.  Among his personal favorites were two medical research buildings on the Vanderbilt University campus, Davy Crockett Building, 3401 West End Avenue and the Sheraton Music City Hotel.  At one time, he was licensed to perform engineering services in all 48 states in the continental United States.

After retiring from Carpenter Wright Engineering, John founded a non-profit organization, Nashville Tools for Schools.  John’s mission was to assist Nashville public schools by delivering custom carpentry for classrooms in Davidson County.  What began in his mother-in-law’s basement grew into a large workshop space housed at Hillsboro High School.  John and the team of volunteers he assembled delivered bookshelves and computer desks across the county.  The enterprise continues today with the same vision of enhancing education in the Nashville area.

Personally, John was dedicated to his wife and his family.  He was proud to be associated with Woodmont Christian Church since its founding.  He was one of the inaugural class baptized in Woodmont’s sanctuary in 1949.  At Woodmont he served in several capacities including being the Chairman of the Congregation, serving as Chairman of the Board of Elders and being a devoted member of the choir.  He was dedicated to expanding the mission work of the church and was instrumental in building Habitat for Humanity homes in the Nashville area and homes abroad for the needy in Guatemala.

John was known as an exacting and creative professional, a dedicated exercise enthusiast, and a charitable stalwart for those less fortunate.

John is survived by his loving wife Sandra, his daughters, Beth Carpenter (Randy Herron), Alison Bueschen (Tony), and Cathy Johnson (Jerry).  He is also survived by his grandchildren, Matt Cooksey (Sara), Lauren Cooksey, Will Elliott (Ella), Grace Speers, Max Speers, and Halle Johnson, as well as one great-grandson, Cole Cooksey.  John is predeceased by his parents William F. Carpenter, Sr. and Vivian Woodrow Carpenter, his brothers, William F. Carpenter, Jr. and Dr. Richard W. Carpenter and his grandson Luke Elliott.

Visitation will be held at Woodmont Christian Church from noon until 2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 22, 2025. Following visitation, a celebration of life service will be held at Woodmont Christian Church at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Woodmont Christian Church woodmontchristian.org or Nashville Tools for Schools nashvilletoolsforschools.org.

Arrangements in the care of Compassion Funeral & Cremation Services, Nashville, TN (615) 857-9955. We proudly remain locally owned & operated.