Obituary

Willie A. Penton passed away Saturday, June 7, 2008, at Covenant Hospital in Plainview at the age of 74. He was born Feb. 15, 1934, in Bogalusa, La., to Alvin and Lena Penton. He married Lenore Penton on Feb. 4, 1984, in Amarillo. She passed away May 12, 2008. Willie served in the U.S. Air Force, retiring in 1972 as a staff sergeant in the military police. He worked as a court security officer for the U.S. Federal Marshall's Office in Amarillo. He retired in 1998, and in 2004 moved to Plainview with his wife. Willie was gifted with a wonderful sense of humor, and there was never a dull moment in his presence. He loved to fish. He was raised a Baptist. Survivors include two daughters, Slenna Hays and her fiance, Wes Monger of Spring, and Darla Pate of Weatherford; one son, Claude Wayne Penton of Burleson; two stepdaughters, Sandy Keltz and her husband, Larry, and Kandace "Kandy" Decker and her husband, Andy, all of Plainview; two stepsons, Randy Cognasi and his wife, Marsha, of Prattville, Ala., and Andy Cognasi and his wife, Linda, of Lubbock; two brothers, Billy Penton and his wife, Marilyn, of Amarillo and Dudley Penton of Atlanta, Ga.; one sister, Bonnie Morris of Bogalusa, La.; 24 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. His wife; a sister, Irma Lee Mitchell; a brother, Damon C. Penton; and his parents are deceased. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. today, Tuesday, June 10, 2008, at Bartley Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 11, 2008, at Bartley Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Steve Rogers, pastor of Trinity Fellowship Church, officiating. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Bartley Funeral Home of Plainview.