Carlos H. Wampler

Carlos H. Wampler, 82, of Benham, KY passed away on December 3, 2020 in Indianapolis. Carlos was born on February 6, 1938 in Wise County, VA to the late George and Bertha Wampler. He had 3 brothers, Curt, Sid, Frank & 1 sister Phyllis. At a very young age, he moved to Benham, KY & graduated from Benham High School in 1956. Carlos married Carolyn Sue Denton that same year. They had his first son William Gregory Wampler (Willie) Sept 12, 1957. Not wanting to follow in his father’s footsteps as a coal miner, He packs his pregnant wife and 1-year old son and moved to Indianapolis, IN, finding opportunity at International Harvester. Aug 16, 1959 his second child was born Renauta Gaye Wampler. They struggled those early years and worked hard to support his family while having two more children, his third Richard Marion Wampler born Oct. 11, 1960 and the fourth Carla Sue Wampler born Feb. 28, 1963.

——Carlos (BUZZ) as everybody called him, worked for 44 years as a millwright for International Harvester, retiring around 2000 he continued to train and aid International Harvester (Navistar) for many more years.

——He and Sue separated in the mid 70’s and he remarried Juanita Nell Coffee, Oct. 31, 1981. Juanita, having three kids of her own, Doug Harding, Peggy Sue Allanson and Beth Ann Burton.

——Sue remarried to Larry A. Smith. Later in years Buzz, Juanita, Larry, and Sue became great friends plus all the kids mix and mingled Larry adding three more
children to the bunch.

——Buzz & Juanita first met at the old Capricorn club and fell madly in love. His pickup line was she was the prettiest thing that walked through the door. She was sold!! They remained sweethearts for the next 40 years He loved all of her and his children like he’s own. He would do anything for any of them, and often did. The family continued to grow with 7 kids, 15 grand kids, 23 great-grand kids, 3 great-great grandkids, he loved them all!

—-Sadly he lost his first born son, Willie, July 6, 1982, due to a motorcycle accident. Willie was survived by his 23-month-old daughter Jennifer Leigh Wampler. She’s now 40 with 2 children of her own, Kyleigh and Madison Rippy.

——-Buzz was raised Southern Baptist as his father, George who left the mines in Kentucky became a minister for a small church in Noblesville, IN. Buzz later joined his sweetheart, Juanita, and became a member of The Church of Christ Of Latter-Day Saint.

——Buzz loved to go to Lake Freeman, very good friends (Art and Esther Koebel) had a wonderful cabin up there. He loved it and enjoyed taking the kids. He enjoyed fishing, campfires, burnt hot dogs, and good friends. He loved to tell stories of the good old days and loved to cook. His best (to hear him say it) was his green beans (with jowl), peaches, and cream corn on the cob, iron skillet cornbread, and fresh home tomatoes (with a little salt). He loved his cereal, cheerios or frosted mini wheats or a mix them both and loved to drink that last drop of milk from the bowl. He loved a good cucumber salad, Juanita’s chicken and dumplings, Sue’s pineapple upside-down cake, Beth’s pecan pie. He enjoyed anything I H. He enjoyed a good football game, a basketball or baseball game (any sports). He loves Cracker
Barrel, greens with vinegar, some good ham and beans. He loved Juanita’s fried pork chop or her iron skillet sausage gravy and biscuits. He loved life, all his kids and his wife, Juanita.

Later in life he and Juanita moved to Monticello KY, her hometown, they bought a few acres and a home up on Knob Hill, beautiful, peaceful place. He enjoyed the country and the good country folks that lived there. Of course, that apple fritter place, in town, off the hill. He fit right in with the good, kind, honest, hardworking country folks that lived there.

——Ask him how’s he doing, he would say still kickin, but not to HIGH!!

We all loved him so much. May he rest in peace.

Carlos is preceded in death by his parents, mentioned above; along with Sid Wampler, Frank Wampler, and Phyllis Wampler, William Wampler, Tina Marie Baker.
survived by his wife Juanita and children Doug Harding, Rena Sayre, Peggy Allanson, Richard Wampler, Beth Burton and Carla Prince.

A service will be at 1pm on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at The Church of Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 12257 Temple Drive, Carmel, IN 46032. Carlos will be laid to rest on Friday, December 11, 2020 in Monticello Cemetery, Monticello, KY. Arrangements in Indiana provided by Legacy Cremation & Funeral Services – Lawrence. Arrangements in Kentucky provided by Hicks and Vaughn Funeral Home.