DOWNEY - Rose Carpenter, an active real estate broker and investor in Downey, has passed away.She was born Rosa Violeta Alvarado Perez Monterey in Managua, Nicaragua on March 20, 1933. Her father worked for the Bank of London in Managua and her mother was a stay-at-home mom. Five years later, a boy was born to the family: Carlos Umberto Alvarado Jr. The Alvarados belonged to the Baptist Church of Managua. They immigrated to the United States in 1946 and settled in Los Angeles along with other relatives. Rose attended Berendo Junior High and Polytechnic High School in Los Angeles. While in high school, she met her future husband, Arthur Carpenter, who was the older brother of her friend, Margaret. The Carpenters were also recently arrived immigrants from Cuba. Arthur was drafted by the U.S. Army in 1951 and spent two years serving in the Korean Conflict. Upon returning, Rose and Arthur were married. The year was 1954. In 1956, their first son, Arthur Jr., was born. Another son, Allen, arrived a year later. Daughter Cynthia was born in 1960. Rose and her husband tried a variety of businesses and in 1970 settled on real estate, establishing Carpenter Realty in Downey. They were active as brokers and investors ever since, with Rose closing her last escrow in February of this year. Rose was active in the Emanuel Armenian Church of Downey. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, her three children, and two grandchildren, Sophia and Isabel.

********** Published: April 26, 2012 - Volume 11 - Issue 02