John Robert Pennington, 83
John Robert Pennington, 83, died Sept. 18, 2009, in Boca Raton, Fla.
Born Feb. 9, 1926, in Sandpoint, Idaho, he was the son of John Henry and Marjory Anderson Pennington.
After graduating from Weber High School in Ogden, Utah, in 1944, John enlisted in the Army, joining the Army Air Corps.
After the war, he entered Whitman College, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1950.
John, like his father before him, chose a business career, which began as manager of the men’s wear department of Montgomery Wards in Walla Walla, Wash.
The Wards years took him to many stores in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California.
In 1969 he became store manager of the Burien, Wash., White Front, transferring later to the Sacramento, Calif., store.
In 1971, he joined Zayre as a store manager in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1972 he joined Wickes Furniture as the store manager in El Cajon, Calif.
In 1975, John became national field manager for Levitz Furniture, a job he held for 20 years until his retirement in l995.
A south Florida resident since 1975, John is survived by his wife of 38 years, Jill Pennington. He is also survived by his sister, Marjory Ann Koehler, of Raleigh, NC; his daughter, Carla Pennington Kirby (Steve) of Sandpoint,; and his sons, John (Kim) of Rocklin, Calif., and Donald of Deerfield Beach, Fla.; three grandchildren, Tiffany Kirby of San Fran-cisco, Calif., Alex Pennington of Rocklin, Calif., and Kevin Kirby of Sandpoint; and nine nieces and nephews.
John was preceded in death by his parents John and Marjory Pennington; a sister, Jean Byrne; and a grandson, Tyler Pennington.
John was a warm, vibrant, humorous and outspoken man, always demonstrating hope, determination, honor and, most importantly, love. He will be missed greatly by all who knew him and by the family who meant so much to him.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at Coffelt Moon Chapel 109 N. Division Ave. in Sandpoint, with burial to follow in Pinecrest Cemetery.
Following the burial there will be a reception to honor John at the home of his daughter, Carla Pennington Kirby. Those who knew John or family members are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested donations be made in memory of John R Pennington to the Alzheimer Association 225 N Michigan Avenue Chicago, Ill. 60601 or to Hospice by the Sea 1531 West Palmetto Park Road Boca Raton, FL 33486.
Family and friends are invited to sign John’s online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.