Bobby Ray Pennington

Bobby Ray Pennington passed away in his home on May 23, 2020. Bobby Ray Pennington was born Aug. 4, 1941, in Butler County, to Lula Johnson and Raymond Pennington.
Pennington joined the Air Force on Jan. 11, 1960. While stationed at the Pentagon, he met and married his wife of 52 years, Gladys “Tippy” Tipsword. Tippy was
stationed at Fort Myer in Virginia and met Bob while working in her capac- ity as an Army medic. They married on March 7, 1968, in Arlington, Va.
The couple had their first daughter, Debbie (Brian) Woods on Jan 28, 1969. They had their second daughter, Delorres (Ken) Morris on Nov. 13, 1970. They had their only son, Michael (Shanna) Pennington, on June 4, 1972. Pennington retired from the Air Force in 1980 and moved to Mt. Vernon, to be near his mother and siblings.
Pennington worked for the state of Missouri, Division of Family Services from 1981-2001.
Pennington served as a Vice Commander of the Mt. Vernon American Legion Post 137, and chaplain for District 15 of the American Legion. He was a member of the Mt. Vernon Christian Church for many years.
Pennington is survived by his wife, Tippy, three children, six grandchildren, one brother, Buddy Dale (Cindy) Pennington, one sister, Mary Garrett and a moody cat.
Pennington was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Lula, three brothers, Harold Hendrix, Willis Fred Hendrix, Billy Joe Hendrix and one sister, Ruth Hailey.
A visitation under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon was from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, 2020, at the Mt. Vernon Christian Church on McVey Street. A funeral service was at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 29, 2020, at the church. Burial will follow at the Mt. Vernon IOOF Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to be made to the Mt. Vernon American Legion Post 137 in care of the funeral home.
Online condolences may be shared at www.FossettMosherFuneralHome.com.