Paul Wesley Pennell

Paul Wesley Pennell, age 84, departed this life on February 4, 2024. Paul and Sharon are reunited in a land beyond the sky in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Cleabell Pennell; beloved wife of fifty-five years, Sharon (Dent) Pennell; and in-laws, Robert and Mary Dent. Paul was a true son of the Hilltop U.S.A., attending John Burroughs Elementary and a graduate from West Jr. and Sr. High Schools. He received his B.S. in Education from The Ohio State University and a M.E.D. from Xavier University. Paul taught and coached in the Columbus City Schools for thirty-two years with service at East and Briggs High Schools. During his coaching tenure, Paul was one of the very few coaches to take teams to the state final four in two different sports, with his East High School baseball team winning the Ohio State championship in 1969. Service and leadership were at the heart of Paul’s being. He was a long-time member of the Kiwanis Club of Hilltop, serving as club President, President of its Scholarship Foundation (HKCSF), and chairing several committees. As a member of the District 10 Basketball Coaches Association, Paul served as its President for three years and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 1994. True to his alma mater, Paul was a life member of the West High School Alumni Association, serving as its President two times. He was inducted, along with Sharon, into its Hall of Fame. He is also a life member of the OSU Alumni Association. Paul and Sharon began attending Brookshire, now Crossroads United Methodist Church, two weeks after their marriage. They were involved in several leadership roles during their fifty-five years as members. Paul is survived by his brothers, David (Vickie) Pennell of Gainesville, GA and Stephen (Bertie) Pennell of Marysville, OH; brother-in-law, Dan (Susan) Dent of Powell, OH; many nieces and nephews on whom he lavished attention. He enjoyed being a part of their family and individual activities. Paul had a wide and diverse circle of loyal friends with whom he enjoyed associating and socializing. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, from 10-11:00 am followed by his funeral service at 11:00 am at Crossroads United Methodist Church, 1100 S. Hague Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43204. Interment will follow at Green Lawn Cemetery. Contributions in Paul’s memory will be accepted by Crossroads UMC, the West High School Alumni Association and the Kiwanis Club of Hilltop Scholarship Foundation.