Donald Tyler "Don" Pennington
Sep 3, 1927 - Nov 9, 2018

Photos © R Burnett

©The Stilwell Democrat Journal
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Submitted by Jan Grooms

Don was born September 3, 1927 in Wichita, Kansas to Taylor and Barbara Pennington. He was born again by profession of Faith in Christ in 1943 at First Baptist Church, Westville. He graduated from Westville, High School in 1945.

He was a student athlete at the University of Arkansas, a letterman in football and a member of the 1946-1947 Cotton Bowl Football team and majored in chemistry.

Don was drafted into the Army during the Korean Conflict and was stationed at Watertown, N.Y. for “Operation Snowfall.” The Engineering Division supported the infantry in many ways. In December 1951, the Engineering Division was to build landing strips for the 11^th Airborne Division paratroopers, but 40 inches of snow fell prohibiting the work to be done. He also served in the Army Occupation Forces in Europe between 1951- 1952, at Rhine Military Post, Engineering Division, Kaiserslautern, Germany. While stationed in Kaiserslautern, he became the coach of his US Army Rhine European Football League and he traveled for nine months playing in Germany with the team.

Don was employed by DX Refinery in Tulsa, then later in 1954 at John Deere Nipak in Pryor, for 13 years. Don moved his family to Corsicana, Texas in order to work at Nipak Trinity River, Kerens, Texas in 1968. He retired from Nipak complex as the plant chemist in 1979. Don moved to Westville in 1979 to become a rancher and served in many areas with his wife Mary at the First Baptist Church in Westville. He served as a Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, in bus ministry, grounds keeping and many other areas.

Don married Mary Hoag May 7, 1955 at the First Baptist Church in Tulsa. He has three daughters, Barbara Dianne Pennington of Plano, Texas, Donna Kay and her husband Danny Hoffman of Huntsville, Texas, and Rebecca Lynn and her husband Brad of Tulsa. He has two granddaughters, Hannah Nicole and Emma Kate Kindle.

Don was preceded in death by his wife Mary Hoag Pennington, parents T.S. Pennington and Barbara Norma Thompson Pennington, one brother James S. Pennington, one granddaughter Emily Lynn.

FUNERAL SERVICES 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, November 13, 2018 First Baptist Church Westville, Oklahoma

OFFICIATING Justin Heck MUSIC Rendered by Doug Davis & Victor Covey PALLBEARERS Monte Bradford ~ Dan Collins ~ Darryl Cates Ed Calhoun ~ Odean Hamilton ~ Ray Jarrett HONORARY PALLBEARERS Gene Brewster ~ Roger Abels ~ Bill Partis

INTERMENT Westville City Cemetery Westville,  Oklahoma Roberts & Hart Funeral Home – Westville.

Thank You For Your Service!