Ben and Betty Carpenter: Partners in Life

Ben and Betty Carpenter: Partners in Life. . , When the story of Las Colinas is told, Ben H. Carpenter, with his powerful vision and celebrated accomplishments, takes the lead role. There is another version, though, which also bears telling. Ben and his wife, Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Dupree Carpenter lived a love story with family and faith as its heart and philanthropy as its legacy. In a marriage that spanned 58 years, Ben and Betty accomplished much and gave even more. While Ben led the way in developing Las Colinas, Betty's influence is seen in the community's beauty and cultural life. Always a gracious lady, Betty was the guiding spirit whose serene nature tempered Ben's intense drive. And the support was mutual: Ben encouraged Betty in her life long love of education, the arts, and literature. Together they raised five children, with the door always open to friends and extended family. Home -- on Hackberry Creek Ranch -- was always at the center of the lives. Their generosity was just as strong. Believing that their lives had been richly blessed, Ben and Betty were committed to sharing their blessings with others. Their gifts included the land for Baylor Medical Center at Irving, the Irving Arts Center, Las Colinas Elementary School, and the Presbyterian Church at Hackberry Creek. Together they funded the Carpenter Chapel at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, the Carpenter Family MBA Student Leadership Center at the University of Texas at Austin, and a number of other educational and medical endowments. Ben and Betty Carpenter's lives ended with the same harmony of their years together. Ben passed away on March 3, 2006, and was joined in death two days later by Betty, the beloved partner with whom he shared a life and a love that made an indelible mark on the world around them.