Emma was retired from a longtime career as an executive assistant and legal secretary at companies throughout the Charleston area. She was a loving wife and mother, always doing for others and willing to help anyone in need. She loved doing home and interior design projects in her spare time, along with spending time with her family and her many dogs throughout the years. She will be sadly missed by her family and her many friends.

Emma was preceded in death by her father and friend, Howard G. Hoover , also a longtime resident of Dunbar.

Surviving are her husband, Richard L. "Dick" Carpenter; son, Richard Wayne Carpenter; mother, Helen Hoover; sisters, Gloria Jean Shafer of Clendenin, Mary Aquire of Oklahoma, Dianna Gibson of Point Pleasant, Brenda Williams of Maine and Darlene Hoover of Charleston; brother, Gordon E. Hoover of Cross Lanes; mother-in-law, Elizabeth Brewer of Charleston; sisters-in-law, Janet Runion of Pocatalico and Michelle Carpenter of Colorado; brothers-in-law, Kenneth Carpenter of Colorado, Robert Runion of Pocatalico and Paul Shafer of Clendenin, and all of her many nieces and nephews who she loved very much.

Emma's husband and son would like to recognize those family members and friends who believed in Emma, supported her in any way or just made her life in any way better, especially during her long battle with her illness…you know who you are. And, to Ben Rice, Chris Tipton and Dr. Michael DeWitt of the Thomas Memorial Hospital staff for the care and compassion that was given to Emma and her family during her illness, the family thanks you deeply.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, June 23, at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar. Burial will follow at the Floral Hills Garden of Memories, Pocatalico.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, June 22, at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages "in memory of" donations to the International Myeloma Foundation at 1-800-452-2873 or http://www.myeloma.org/ .