Robert Wingate Penwell II, 51 passed away on August 28, 2023. He was born in Norfolk, Virginia, lived in Altoona, PA as a young child, but called Virginia Beach home for nearly forty years. He was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Catherine Penwell.
Robert was the kind of man who could fix nearly anything and it gave him great joy to help his friends and family. Robert also had a love of music and played drums and the guitar in his younger years, having played in a few garage bands and local night clubs. He attended Bayside High School in Virginia Beach.
Robert served as Grounds Maintenance Superintendent for Rosewood Memorial and Princess Anne Memorial Parks for fourteen years. He loved his work and took great pride in it. Robert was always there to help someone in need, he was a great listener and friend to many and he will be sorely missed by all that knew and worked with him.
Survivors include four sisters, Pamela Gish (Jim), Julie Marhalik-Helms (Craig), Jennifer Green, and Leslie Edwards (Russell); a son, Hunter Penwell; eleven nieces and nephews, James and Jason Gish, Daniel, Justin and Katie Edwards, Brett and Aaron Saunders, Colton and Cody Helms, Derrick and Cedric Broadous, his beloved bulldog Josie, and his work family, which was so important to him.
A Celebration of Robert’s Life will be held on Sunday, September 10, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at Rosewood-Kellum Funeral Home, 601 N. Witchduck Road in Virginia Beach.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Virginia Beach SPCA or the Norfolk SPCA.
