Wilford Sloan Penny
November 20, 1931 ~ March 22, 2009
Wilford Penny LINDEN Funeral services for Wilford Penny, 77, of Linden, will be at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, March 25, 2009 , at Linden United Methodist Church with Bros. David Darst and Mark McClanahan officiating. Burial will be in Linden Cemetery under the direction of Reeder-Davis-Schindler Funeral Home. A visitation will be from 6 to 8 PM, Tuesday, at the funeral home. Mr. Penny died March 22, 2009, at Margarets House in Longview. He was born November 20, 1931, in Linden to Sloan and Ruth Ford Penny. He began his postal career in 1949 as a sub for his father and retired from the United States Postal Service in 1988, having spent most of 37 years as a rural mail carrier for Linden, Marietta, and Hughes Springs, Texas. He would always say the mail has to go with service and a smile. Mr. Penny was a member of the Texas Rural Letter Carriers Association, and served as secretary and President of Local 66. In 1976, he was elected Secretary to the state board of TXRLCA and held that position until 1985. In 1996, he was appointed Editor of the Texas Carrier, a monthly publication of over 7,000 copies distributed to rural letter carriers in Texas. At the 1997 National Convention, Wilford was presented with the First Place Award for Best State Paper in the NRLCA for 1996. He was also chosen as Retired Carrier of the Year for 2006. Wilford served in the Air Force from 1951 to 1956. He was a member of Linden United Methodist Church for over 50 years, where he sang in the choir and was director of the Mens Choir. He served for six years as mayor of Linden , was a member of the Linden Lions Club and was well known in the area for his singing, dancing and entertaining as Willie in the Linden Lions Follies. He was a 50 year member of the Linden Masonic Lodge 192, member of the Linden Chamber of Commerce and American Legion Post 105. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Ann Burns Penny and his parents. Survivors include his wife, Laura Harris Penny, of Linden; one son and daughter-in-law, Bryan and Susan Penny, of Chandler; one daughter and son-in-law, Marsha and Bill Thomas, of Carrollton; three sisters, Peggy Gray and husband, Jerry of Cookson, Oklahoma, Sue Gray and husband, Glen, of Wake Village, and Nanette Henry of Linden; three grandchildren, Paige, Mitchell and Michael Penny of Chandler; his two little buddies, Bruno and Buster and his little grand dogs, Ricky and Lucy; also, a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends. In lieu of flowers, family requests that memorial be made to Beacon Hospice at Margarets House, 5016 Gilmer Rd., Longview TX 75604 or Linden United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 348, Linden, TX 75563.
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All of us involved with the Cass County Relay for Life would like to extend our deepest sympathy to your family. Mr. and Mrs. Penny have been actively involved in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life for several years, acting as valued Committee members and as loyal volunteers. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of loss.
I love you all. You're in my thoughts and prayers.
We didn't have the pleasure of knowing Mr. Penny personally; however, we know and enjoy his son Bryan and his family. Mr. Penny must have been quite a man to have accomplished so much throughout his life and still had time to raise his family so well. May God give you peace and comfort at this time of loss knowing that the best is yet to come.
Mrs. Laura I'm so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family. Please know Mr. Wilford was loved by many and will be greatly missed. Please let me know if you need anything. Love ya bunches and know that we will be sure to honor his courage for putting up such a fight with his illness this friday at the Relay for Life. Love you bunches,
Laura, our heart goes out to you in your time of sorrow. May God bless and keep you.Sent with love.Ramblin' Roy and Mrs. Ramblin'
I'm so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Mr. Wilford will be greatly missed.Kathy Fant
Mr. Wilford was one of my favorite people in Linden and brings to my mind fond memories. He will be missed.
YA'LL ARE IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.
You will forever be in our hearts and lives as you watch down on us as our guardian angle. We love and will miss you but we will always have the wonderful memories. Thank you WillieLove Bill, Marsha, Ricky & Lucy Thomas.
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
Laura, I am so sorry to learn of Wilford's death.I lost my huband this past July. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Stay strong.
We didn't have the pleasure to personally know Mr. Penny but are friends and co workers with Bryan. Our deepest sympathy to the family and know that many are praying and lifting this family up right now. May God Bless and Keep You. Larry and Joi
Laura, we send our love, hugs, and prayers to you.
Wilford was a good man who served his country and community.
OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU IN YOUR TIME OF LOSS. MAY THE MEMORIES OF YOUR LOVED ONE COMFORT YOU AT THIS TIME.LOVINGLYTHE MITCHELL'S
I was so sorry to hear about the passing of Wilford. I know that he and Grandmother are now celebrating in Heaven. My brothers and I remember how fun it was when we would stay with Grandmother and Grandad and Wilford would take us to school in Marietta when he went to deliver the mail. It was fun to pretend to drive using the steering wheel he had on the passenger side of his truck. Bryan you are in my thought and prayers.