Mabel Juanita Pennington

Mable Juanita Pennington known to Family and Friends as “Nita” passed away peacefully on July 9, 2022 at a remarkable 97 years old. Nita was born on October 15, 1924 Sumner County, South Haven, Kansas. Nita was preceded in death by her husband of 37 years Master Sergeant, Harold E. Pennington, her parents Okie and Rebecca Debuhr, her sister Joanne Anderson and a new born sister who passed upon birth.

She is survived by her daughter Susan (Steve) Shannon of Santa Ana, CA and Sharon (Robert) Worley of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and sons Jeff (Jacqueline) Pennington of El Dorado Hills, CA and Kurtis (Debbie) Pennington of Templeton, CA. She is also survived by 7 grandchildren who include Krista Shannon, Justin and Craig Pennington, and Kyle Worley and lastly, Haley, Cole, and Jenna Pennington.

Nita grew up during the depression era on an 1870’s legacy farm in South Haven, near Wellington, Kansas where her family relatives still farm today. Nita attended the typical one room country schoolhouse. In 1938 she moved with her parents to Towanda, KS and graduated from Towanda High School in 1942.

During WWII she was employed with Beech Aircraft Company Wichita, KS as a Time Keeper. After WWII she graduated Business College and became employed by Mid Continent Oil, Wichita, KS as a Managerial Office Secretary.

In 1953 she married Master Sergeant Harold E. Pennington, a WW II Air Combat Vet who was affectedly known as “Penny”, at Lincoln Air Force Base, Lincoln Neb, and became an US Air Force SAC Flight Engineers wife and homemaker. After 23 years in the Air Force, in 1962 Penny was transferred by Boeing Company to Castle Air Force Base where the family made it their permanent home into their retirement and passing.

Nita was an avid supporter of the Camp Fire Girls, the Cub and Boy Scouts, and later the Merced Marching 100 High Band Boosters. In 1980 she earned an AA Medical Office degree from Merced College. A cancer survivor herself, she later volunteered with Hinds Hospice of Merced.

Her hobbies included sewing and country style cooking which always included a large Sunday Supper with Family. However, her greatest love was being a family homemaker and getting her hair done every Wednesday at JCPenney.

The family wishes to express our sincere gratitude to all of you for your support and heartfelt wishes during these trying times. We would like to also extend our special heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Disbrow, of Atwater Medical Group, Pacifica Senior Living, the Staff at Merced Nursing & Rehabilitation, as well as all those individuals who helped with her needs over the last several years including those who helped Nita on Komos Court. As always with the many that helped, there is a special place in heaven for you.

In Lieu of flowers, donations in Nita’s name may be made to Hinds Hospice, Merced or the Castle Air Museum Atwater Scholarship Fund.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stratfordevansfunerals.com for the Pennington family.