Camas Days: Washougal Residents to be Crowned King, Queen July 17

Chuck and Barbara Carpenter, 19-year Washougal residents, will be crowned King and Queen of Camas Days 2019 at Washougal’s Columbia Ridge Senior Living, on July 17 at 7 pm.  The public is welcome to attend, and tickets are $5.00 at the door.

The Carpenter’s raised three daughters and are now experiencing the joy of their six grandchildren, and a two great-grandchildren, who live in Oregon and Tennessee. 

Prior to moving to Washougal, the Carpenters lived in Clackamas, Oregon.  From 1972 to 2000, Chuck was a full time school administrator, first as an elementary principal and then as a school superintendent and was a sole practice attorney part-time in Oregon before retiring and moving to Washougal.  Chuck was invited to be the Personnel Director for Camas School District for one year and then served in the same capacity for Washougal School District for a year.  Chuck then retired for a second time, only to be contacted by the Reynolds School that serves Gresham, Troutdale and Fairview, Oregon as their Personnel Director. 

“Then I retired from paid work forever,” he said.

Prior to retiring, Barbara served as the Administrative Assistant to the President and Vice President of GST Company.  Barbara continued her duties as an Administrative Assistant to the President and Vice Present after GST was purchased by Time Warner Communications. 

Since retiring,  they have made community service a priority in their lives. 

“When a list of volunteer commitments is as lengthy and long-standing as theirs, you know the work is sincere and enjoyed.  They bring passion and excellence to each of their roles and are making a difference in the lives of many,” was written in their Camas Days King and Queen nomination letter.

Chuck served the City of Washougal on the Parks Commission from 2007 to 2010.  He also served on the city’s Elected Officials Salary Commission from 2007 to 2014. He currently serves on the Lodging Tax and Tourism Commission and the Schmid Park Advisory Committee for the City of Washougal. He is secretary of the Downtown Washougal Association and treasurer of the Washougal Arts and Culture Alliance.  

In 2018, he chaired the Washougal Citizens Government Advisory Committee served on and the City of Washougal’s Roundabout Design Committee.  He was awarded a Community Leadership Award from the City of Washougal in 2018,

He was president of the Washougal Lions Club from 2009-2010 and served as club treasurer from 2010-2018.  He chaired the Washougal Festival of Trees for eight years he and Barbara  continues to be a member of the Artists Repertory Theater Support Guild and the Third Rail Theater support group, which Chuck chairs.

He volunteers in the educational community as a Senior Projects Panel Judge and serves as a volunteer tutor at Hathaway Elementary School.

Barbara is also devoted to volunteerism.  She volunteers each week at the West Columbia Gorge Humane Society and she cooks for Meals on Wheels twice a week. Along with her husband, she assists with delivering the Thanksgiving Food Delivery to needy families in Camas and Washougal through St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Camas.  

She also helps at the Festival of Trees and the Run for the Hungry.  Barbara also is an active Lion’s Club member and has volunteered at the Lions Burger Stand.

After their coronation, the couple will be part of the Camas Days Parade on Saturday, July 27.  They will be honored at a luncheon following the parade at the Zion Lutheran Church  hosted by the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) Camas Washougal members.

To learn more about Camas Days, visit www.cwchamber.com