Obituary of Robert Earl Pennington, Jr.

Robert Earl Pennington Jr. was born August 9, 1923 in Woodville, Tx, the second son of Robert E. and Gladys Young Pennington, and passed away April 16, 2017 in Houston, Tx. Robert graduated from Kirby High School, Woodville in 1940 and entered the University of Texas at Austin in September 1940. In 1943 he entered the U.S. Army in the Army Specialized Training Program where he attended Harvard University, Boston, MA. When ASTP was closed, he served in the Infantry in Europe where he was in the Battle of the Bulge and was captured December 25, 1944 and was a prisoner of war for five months. He earned the Silver Star and the Bronze Star medals for Gallantry in Action. Paul reentered UT January 1946 and graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering January 1948. He was employed by BF Goodrich/Goodrich Gulf Chemical Company 1948-1979 and Ethyl Corporation 1980-1990. He loved to play golf, sing, whistle, tell stories about his life and be with his family. Paul was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, William M. Pennington, Kenneth “Buck” Pennington and Pat Pennington. He is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Frances Williams Pennington; son, Robert E. Pennington, III of Houston; daughter, Ann Pennington McKeel and husband, Dan of Murray, KY; grandchildren, Lucy Smith and husband, Sid, Sr. of Houston, Tx, Mary Droesch and husband, Edward of New York, NY, Scott McKee and wife, Julie of Paducah, KY, Andy McKeel and wife April of Murray, KY, Joey McKeel and wife, Sarah of Houston, Tx.; great grandchildren, Isabelle and Sid Smith, Jr., Charlie and Lucy Droesch, Solomon McKee, Eli and Catherine McKeel; brother, Warren Y. Pennington of LaGrange, Tx.; and other family members and friends. A Military Honors grave side service will be held Saturday, April 22, 2017, at 2 pm at the Magnolia Cemetery in Woodville, Tx with his nephews, Rev. Jerry Pennington and Rev. Jim Porter, officiating. Memorial donations may be made to Bob's favorite charity, to which he spent 20 years providing clothes and food: The Emergency Aid Coaltion, 5401 Fannin, Houston, Tx 77004