Gilbert Lee Pennington, 68 years of age, passed away on Thursday, December 27, 2018 at his home. Born on January 16, 1950 in Beckley, WV, he was the son of the late Newton Arlin Pennington and Mabel Elizabeth Lilly Pennington.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Janet Bailey. He is survived by his wife, Peggy Marie Connor Pennington; his daughter, Lora M. Pennington; his sons, Gilbert L. Pennington, II and his wife, Elizabeth, and Scotty L. Pennington and his wife, April; his grandchildren, Katie and Connor Pennington, and Hunter, Kayslee and Creed Pennington; his sisters, Sandra Pennington and Eleanor Elam; his brother, Newton A. Pennington, Jr.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Gilbert was a 1968 graduate of Shady Spring High School and attended Beckley College, Bluefield State, WV College of Graduate Studies and Marshall University. He was a Social Studies teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School, a wrestling coach at Woodrow Wilson High School, served as assistant principal at Shady Spring High School, a member of the staff at the Raleigh County Board of Education Central Office, served as principal at Trap Hill Middle School and retired as the Maintenance Director for Raleigh County Schools.
He was a member of the Beaver Lions Club and a member of the Free Masons. He enjoyed working on his camp at Pence Spring and his motel at Bradley, driving his tractor, bailing hay and working with cattle, and working in the garden and around his property. Later in his life, he loved being there for his grandchildren’s birthday parties and the Holidays and had a passion for watching MeTV.
The family will receive friends from 12:00-2:00 pm, Wednesday, January 2, 2019 at Blue Ridge Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 pm in the Chapel of Blue Ridge Funeral Home with Pastor Dewey Lowe officiating.
Burial will be held privately at the request of the family.
Honoring him as pallbearers are Scotty L. Pennington, Gilbert L. Pennington, II, N.A. Pennington, Billy Elam, Roy Whitehead, Gary Bailey, Bill Richmond and L.J. Cox.
For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123; 1-800-ACS-2345; donate.cancer.org.
Online condolences may be sent to www.blueridgefuneralhome.com. Blue Ridge Funeral Home & Crematorium has the honor of serving the family.
