Jane Rentchler Pennington

Jane Rentchler Pennington, 90, of Mount Dora , passed away on April 23, 2020, two days before her 91st birthday. Born on April 25, 1929 in Beckley, West Virginia, she was the daughter of the late Marion David and Naurine Herold Rentchler. Her stepfather, Robert Frederick Gibson (Gib) was the only father she knew and loved and he raised her along with Naurine from the time she was a baby.

Mrs. Pennington was a 1946 graduate of Richwood High School. She graduated from West VIrginia Wesleyan College in 1950 where she was a member of Delta Psi Kappa, Alpha Delta Pi, the Women's Athletic Association and the Future Teachers of America. Following her graduation, she began her teaching career at Elkhorn Junior High in Maybeury, WVA and later at North Fork High School in North Fork, West Virginia.

After moving to Florida in 1959, she resumed teaching physical education at Ocoee High School and West Orange High School in Winter Garden and also held the position of coach for the girls' volleyball, basketball and cheerleading teams. While teaching, Mrs. Pennington continued her education and earned her Master's Degree in Education with an emphasis on Physical Education from Florida State University.

She had many talents and interests. She could build almost anything and her home was filled with her hand-built shelving, cabinets and vanities. Her woodworking skills came in handy because she was an avid antiques collector. Her work was not only beautiful but overbuilt in order to hold her extensive collection. Her hobby soon became her business, Jane's Antiques, where she sold antiques at Renninger's Antique Center in Mount Dora.

Mrs. Pennington also loved sports and was the number one fan of her husband Coach Fred Pennington and his Evans High School Trojans. She could be seen and heard in the stands at every basketball game and was known to make her presence evident to the referees.

Mrs. Pennington also enjoyed playing bridge, hosting dinner parties and entertaining her friends and family.

Mrs. Pennington was predeceased by her husband of 70 years, Coach Fred D. Pennington, with whom she shared a storybook romance and a true love story. They would struggle to maneuver their wheelchairs so that they could face each other to hold hands and kiss. She only lived without him for 38 days.

She is survived by her nephew, Butch Uzzo and his wife, Joanne of Spring Hill, Florida; and her nieces, Debbie Love of Ocoee, Florida and Carol Hardin of Springfield, Virginia.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her son, Frederick D. Pennington, Jr.

We would like to express our appreciation to the staff at Osprey Lodge, especially Pam Williams, for treating Mrs. Pennington as their family and taking special care of her during her residence there.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, services and burial will be private. Friends and family are invited to join us in honoring her memory at a celebration of life to be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Fred Pennington Endowment Fund, Foundation for Orange County Public Schools, c/o Deborah Pedraza, 445 W. Amelia Street, Orlando, FL 32801