Willie Lee Pennington, Jr., age 58, died Saturday, September 13, 2014 at the Henry County Health Center following a sudden illness.

Celebration of life services will be held 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home with Pastor Darryl Carr officiating. Visitation will begin 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 Tuesday evening. Interment with military honors conducted by Washington American Legion Post 29 will take place at Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington. Memorials have been established for the Education Fund for Keenan and Kolten. Online condolences may be sent for Willie's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com

Willie was born August 31, 1956, in Gary, Indiana, the son of Willie Lee and Odessa Toye (Jones) Pennington. In 1975 he graduated from Emerson High School in Gary, IN. Willie served honorably in the United States Navy from 1977 until 1981.

Previously a resident of Washington, Willie has lived in Mt. Pleasant and Ottumwa for the past ten years. He worked for Crane Valves in Washington until the company closed, and then for Nypro packaging in as a material handler and Kentucky Fried Chicken in Mt. Pleasant. Willie was an avid Chicago Bears fan. He enjoyed going for walks, shooting pool, listening to music and spending time with his family and friends, especially his mom and sons.

Willie is survived by his two sons, Keenan Thyen-Pennington and friend Emma Roberts of Washington, IA. and Kolten Thyen-Pennington of Washington, IA; mother, Odessa Toye Lovingier of Ft. Madison, IA; brother, Lance "Larry" Mason of Bowling Green, KY; sister, Bonnie Lovingier Henderson and husband David of Bowling Green, KY; Fiancé, Missy Stein and son Marcus Campbell of Mt. Pleasant, IA; several nieces and nephews; mother-in-law, Gwen Thyen of Washington, Iowa; and sister-in-law, Carol Whitwell of Baraboo, Wisconsin.

He was preceded in death by his father, one brother, Vernon Pennington, and his grandparents.