PENNEY, John R. 1913-1986

PENNEY, PACEY, MCDOUGALL, MCDEVITT, WRIGHT

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 6/4/2013 at 21:50:08

Funeral services were held on Monday, October 13, 1986, at First United Methodist Church in Mason City, for John R. Penney, former Mason City High School principal and teacher, age 73. He died Thursday, October 9, 1986 at his home. Rev. Charles Wallace officiated and burial was in the Osage City Cemetery.

Mr. Penney was born on February 28, 1913 at Stacyville, to Albert and Laura (Pacey) Penney. He graduated from Osage High School and Drake Univesity. He earned a master's degree from the University of Iowa in 1934. He later received a master's degree in science education from Colorado College.

He married Ruth McDougall on August 10, 1935 in Osage. The couple moved to Mason City in 1947.

He taught at Van Meter and Newton high schools for several years and for 30 years at Mason City, retiring in 1978.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church, elected to a lifetime membership for studies at national Science Foundation Summer Institute at Colorado College, Colorado Springs; was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Delta Kappa, the highest fraternity honors in the liberal arts and educational colleges, respectively.

Survivors include his wife, Ruth, of Mason City; a daughter, Mrs. Paul (Sue) McDevitt, Rock Island, Illinois; a son, Robert of Twin Falls, Idaho; four sisters: Miss Bess Penney of Des Moines, Miss Mary Penney and Mrs. Harriet Wright, both of Osage, and Mrs. Robert (Edna) Wright of Bedford, Ohio; four grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a brother.

Source: Mitchell County Press-News, Oct. 22, 1986