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PENNINGTON, Gordon Rex 1929-2003

PENNINGTON

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 1/31/2009 at 20:43:30

SANIBEL ISLAND, FLORIDA - Gordon Rex Pennington, a retired senior vice president at Sverdrup Corp., used his talent for building bridges to connect pieces of land, but more importantly to forge relationships between people.

"Fellow employees responded that Gordon was a terrific friend , a mentor, a wonderful human being and an adviser to us all. That was Gordon," said Jim Van Buren, retired vice president of Sverdrup Corp. "Gordon was absolutely fearless when it came to engineering challenges."

Mr. Pennington died of heart attack Friday, February 7, 2003, at his home on Sanibel Island, Florida. He was 73.

Born in Chickasaw County, Mr. Pennington grew up on the family farm near Bassett. He graduated from Charles City High School in 1945. At 16, he enrolled at Iowa State University in Ames, earning his bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1949.

Mr. Pennington was drafted into the Army in the Korean War and served three years surveying land in Alaska for Signal Corps.

Mr. Pennington married his college sweetheart, Jacqueline Anne Morrison in 1951.

In 1955, they moved to St. Louis,Mo. where he joined Sverdrup & Parcel as a civil engineer. In his 38 years at Sverdrup, Mr Pennington earned the nickname "Mr. Transportation", for his work on bridges around the world. He was most proud of the design and engineering work he did on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

Before he retired in 1994, he served as a board member and senior vice president responsible for transportation work at Sverdrup Corp., now Jacobs Engineering Group.

Mr. Pennington, a registered professional engineer in 20 states, was a past president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Consulting Engineers Council of Missouri and the St. Louis section of the Society of American Military Engineers. He had served as a board member of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association and the International Bridge Tunnel and Turnpike Association.

Mr. Pennington was a former Sunday school teacher, trustee and 48 year member of Webster Hills United Methodist Church.

A memorial visitation was held from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, February 15, 2003, at Bopp Chapel, 10610 Manchester Road, Kirkwood, Missouri. A memorial service was held Sunday, Feb 16, 2003, at Webster Hills United Methodist Church, 698 West Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves, Missouri. followed by a reception at the Christian Life Center. Private burial was Monday, Feb 17, 2003, in Jefferson Rarracks National Cemetery.

In addition to his wife, his survivors include three sons: Dr. Tim Pennington and Andy Pennington both of Kirkwood, Missouri, and Mark Pennington of Graceville, Florida; a daughter: Carla Duffey of Kirkwood, Missouri; a sister: Joyce Cavanaugh of Charles City; eight grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.

Memorial contributions may be made to Webster Hills United Methodist Church, 698 West Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves, Mo. 63119.

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#2:
Social Sec. Death Index:

PENNINGTON, GORDON R.
b: 21 Feb 1929
d: 07 Feb 2003
age: 73-74
res: 33957 (Sanibel, Lee, FL)
ssn: Oklahoma 444-30-5149


 

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