Roll Call Tribute

Robert Dewayne "Bob" Pennington, Lt.Col. USAF (Ret) 

November 15, 1940 - August 8, 2024 

Robert D. “Bob” Pennington, 83, went home to Heaven on August 8, 2024. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clifton Mathias and Bernice Hurlburt Pennington, his brother, Clifton Randall Pennington and sister-in-law Marjorie. He is survived by his devoted wife, Patricia; son, Robert D. II “Chip” (Lisa) and their daughter Katherine “Kate”; daughter, Jennifer Christin Rayhill (John) and their children, Meghan, Connor (Vikki), and Claire; niece, Amy Pennington Butler; and nephew, William Randall “Randy” Pennington.

Bob was born at home in Meherrin, VA, on November 15, 1940. Shortly afterwards the family moved to a farm on the Rivanna River in Albemarle and Fluvanna County, where he lived until he entered college. He graduated from Albemarle High School in 1958. He graduated from Randolph-Macon College (BS Mathematics) and entered the U.S. Air Force as an officer. He had a varied career which included a meteorologist, instructor navigator on a KC-135 refueling tanker, a student at Air War College, a management consultant, base commander at Johnston Island in the Pacific, and an instructor and dean at The Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk. He flew over 100 combat missions in the Vietnam War and received numerous awards, including the Distinguished Flying Cross. After retiring from the Air Force as a Lt Col with 28 years of service, he taught high school mathematics at I. C. Norcom and Lake Taylor High Schools for 19 years. He attended Texas A&M to study meteorology, received an MPA from Golden Gate University, and received a MS in Education from Old Dominion University.

His family members, especially his grandchildren, were the loves of his life. He was a very active member of Knox Presbyterian Church where he was a trustee, ruling elder, and clerk of the Session. A memorial service will be held at Knox Presbyterian in Norfolk, VA on Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 1pm. Reception to follow.