Ruth Carpenter, 85, of Waterloo, died Tuesday, Dec. 15, at Ravenwood Nursing and Rehab Center of natural causes.

She was born Nov. 18, 1924, in Fall River, Mass., daughter of John and Bertha Thoericht Ferreira. She married Fred Carpenter on Dec. 30, 1945, in Teaneck, N.J. He died Aug. 17, 2005.

Survived by: a son, Robert (Marsha) of Reinbeck; two sisters, Dorothy Ferreira and Evelyn Polyard, both of Montauk, N.Y.; four brothers, John (Wanda) Ferreira of Suffock, Va., Herbert Ferreira, Montauk, Louis (Margie) Ferreira of Fairlawn, N.J., and Joe Ferreira of Jackson, Fla.; three grandchildren, Albert (Megan) Carpenter of Waterloo, Melissa (Dan) Hill of Waterloo and Mike Waskow of Cedar Falls.

Preceded in death by: her parents; and two brothers Jimmy and Bobbie Ferreira.