FAIRFAX, VA – Emmett Franklin Pennock, known to family and friends as “Frank”, quietly moved into the company of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on June 9, 2021 at Fairfax Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Fairfax, VA. He was born on the 4th of August, 1930, in Carlisle, WV, the son of Etheal and Maggie Pennock.
Frank graduated from Oak Hill High School, where he lettered in track, in 1948. He married Loretta May Scarbro and they settled in Oak Hill. They celebrated 70 years of marriage in August last year. He worked for the New River Company for 12 years and then moved on to the FMC Corporation for the next six years as an inspector of numerous functions. Returning to the New River Company in 1969, he worked until 1986 as a Safety Director, a Safety Inspector and course instructor with several certifications, lead of the mine rescue team and personnel director. When New River closed, he continued his mining career at Beckley Lick Run Company, where he served as the Safety Director and Personnel Director until his ultimate retirement in 1987.
Frank also joined the West Virginia National Guard, serving in numerous capacities. He proudly served as a noncommissioned officer from 1 July 1948 to 1 April 1955, when he was appointed to the rank of captain. He was placed on active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis and deployed to Fort Meade, MD, from October 1961 to November 1962, at which time he was deactivated and returned to West Virginia. Frank served in the infantry, armor and military police before retiring at the rank of major in 1976.
He and Loretta made the most of their retirement and traveled extensively, while they continued to live as members of the Oak Hill Community. Frank spent many years researching family genealogy and chronicled family lineage back hundreds of years while documenting thousands of pages by hand as it was a labor of love.
Frank was a member of the Gatewood Baptist Church, Fayetteville, WV. He immersed himself in the Bible daily for the last 5 years of his life. He read only biblical texts and documented an extensive list of books he read, often reading them more than once. It was difficult to keep the books cued up as he enjoyed learning about his Lord and Savior. Frank grew “where he was planted”, establishing a witness for the Lord wherever he went. All knew that in a waking hour it was his preference to read about the Lord. He relied on God for strength as years passed, looking forward to “holding Jesus’ hand and walking in Heaven” as his health declined. In 2017, he and Loretta moved to the Fairfax, VA area where they lived until his death.
Surviving in addition to his wife, Loretta, are his four children; daughter Rhonda Lynn Snyder and her husband, Sam, of Cross Lanes, WV; daughter Lou Ann Kershner and her husband, Michael, of Clifton, VA; daughter Jane Kay Smith and her husband, David, of Mount Hope, WV; son Stephen Franklin Pennock and his wife, Traci, of Middletown, Ohio. Grandchildren are Christopher Mahan, Matthew Smith and Abigail Pennock. Great grandchildren were Alexander and Connor Mahan. His brothers are Alva Pennock of Parkersburg, WV and Richard Pennock of Shenandoah, VA. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Raymond Pennock.
A service of remembrance will be held at 2pm Saturday June 19th 2021 at Blue Ridge Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 1-2 on Saturday at the funeral home.
Interment will be at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens in Prosperity, WV. In lieu of flowers those who wish to remember Frank in a special way can make donations to the Gatewood Baptist Church.
Online condolences and other expressions of sympathy may be directed to the family via our guestbook at www.blueridgefuneralhome.com
Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, 5251 Robert C. Byrd Dr. Beckley, WV.
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