Donnie Lee Pennington

Donnie Lee Pennington was born to Avis and Bill Pennington on March 2, 1940 in Haskell, Texas. He grew up in Haskell; played all sports: football, basketball, and track. He graduated from Haskell High in 1958. He went on to complete his formal college education in Abilene, graduating from McMurray University in 1962. During his college years, he married his childhood sweetheart, Lin; on November 7, 1959; and he became a Dad to his daughter Pam in 1961. Upon graduation, life took Don and Lin to San Antonio, Texas where he started his long-time career in the Insurance business. He and Lin added a son; Todd, to the family in 1967.

He served the business world in property and casualty insurance working for USF&G; Great American Insurance; Ohio Casualty and retired as an executive with Deep South Insurance in 2005. During his tenure with Great American Insurance, the journey brought Don and his family to Plano, Texas in 1987.

The life journey continued and in 1986, he became a proud Papa to his first grandchild, Ashlynne. His legacy as Papa continued to grow with the addition of Preston, Alexis and Kaylee. In 2014, he was crowned with the extension of that legacy when great grand-child Raelynne arrived. He was such a proud Papa; his grand-children were a source of great joy to him.

For many years, Don served the Lord in his church as a greeter/usher in San Antonio and later at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. He loved greeting everyone on Sunday’s and during special events. He was always serving with a smile, giving out hugs and a life-saver mint.

Don loved sports all of his life. He was an avid fan of the Cowboys through good and bad; even was mistaken for Jimmy Johnson at times when Johnson was coach; he loved playing golf, he was fortunate enough to have played at some of the most prestigious courses in the United States.

Don’s legacy in life to cherish him and carry out his memory are his beloved wife, Lin Pennington; his daughter, Pam Pennington; his son and wife, Todd and Shelley Pennington; his grandchildren Ashlynne and Ryan Grundy; Preston, Alexis and Kaylee Pennington; and his great granddaughter, Raelynne; his sister-in-love, Ann Currie; and his little dog Jax.

There are so many others that are left to cherish Don’s memory and celebrate his life; he easily established life- long friendships from his childhood; long lasting friendships with those that met in him the business world, his service within the church and his special close neighbors in their Plano community.

He is much loved and will be surely missed. Family and friends are invited to gather at the funeral home on Friday from 1pm until 5pm. A memorial service will be held on Monday, November 6, 2017 at 1:00pm in Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano, TX. Interment will be in Willow Cemetery, Haskell, Texas. The family suggests that memorials may be made to the International Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia Foundation, 6144 Clark Center Ave, Sarasota, FL 34238.