John Henry Penny Sr.

Penny, John Henry, 103, of Largo, died on the 18th of April. Born in Gulfport, MS, he came to Florida in 1958 with his family from Lake Charles, LA. He was a 1939 graduate of Baton Rouge High School, Baton Rouge, LA. He attended Louisiana State University for three years, majoring in chemical engineering before entering the U.S Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD. He graduated in June 1945 with the accelerated class of 1946 with a B.S Degree in Engineering. He served on the aircraft carrier USS Cabot, CVL 28, and was off Okinawa when the war ended in August 1945. The battleship USS Pennsylvania was also part of his naval group when it was sunk at Okinawa. He later served on mine sweepers and destroyer escorts before transferring to the Naval Reserve. During the Korean conflict, he served as Commanding Officer of the mine sweeper USS Linnet, AMS 24. He retired from the U.S Naval Reserve in 1971. Commander Penny belonged to the U.S Naval Academy Alumni Associates and the Retired Officer Association. He was awarded various military medals including WWII Victory Medal, Atlantic Campaign Medal, Asiatic – Pacific Medal, National Defense Medal, Korean Occupation Medal, Navy Unit Citation Medal, and Combat Medal Citation.

In his civilian career he was a registered mechanical engineer and employed by various oil companies in Louisiana and Venezuela, plus the Veterans Administration. He served in the VA as the District Safety and Fire Protection Engineer for the State of Florida. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks, the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, American society of Mechanical Engineers, American Legion, and Lamda Chi Alpha Social Fraternity. He was an avid boatsman and tennis player and a member of the Shipwatch Yacht and Tennis Club.

He was preceded in death by his former wife of 61 years, Margaret, and survived by his present wife Linda. He is also survived by his three children, Dr. John H. Penny, Jr. (Ann) of St. Petersburg Beach, Margaret Penny of Seminole, James Penny (Sharon) of Williamstown, MA, stepson Ray Edwin Gesling (Kathryn) of Safety Harbor, and five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren plus nephews and nieces.

Visitation and Service will be held at Serenity Funeral Home on Indian Rocks Road; burial will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Gulfport, MS