PENNINGTON, Phyllis Jean (Tootie)

Pennington, Phyllis Jean "Tootie" Phyllis Jean Pennington, (Tootie), 77, born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, passed away Monday, the 15th of December, after a long, courage-ous battle with Alzheimers. She loved swimming at Big Long Lake and roller-skating at Bell's Rink where she met the love of her life, Bob Pennington. They were married at the ripe age of 17, & shared over 60 years together. Tootie won the Powder Puff Derby in her pink race car, built & sponsored by her & Bob's own hands and company, Pennington Auto Parts, on the dirt track at South Anthony Speedway in Indiana. She was one gutsy lady. In 1961, Phyllis & Bob moved to Phoenix, Arizona where their family and business flourished. Before long, Phyllis was running the office in addition to managing basically four homes! Phoenix, Rocky Point, Prescott & her home on wheels, the motor home. She became an active member in the Eastern Star's & the Ladies Oriental Shrine Directors Staff Unit. She loved to deep-sea fish in Rocky Point and was thrilled to land a 120 lb. Sailfish that is still mounted at her cabin. Prescott, she always said, was the place to read, where her collection of modern romance novels still remain. The motor home was where she kept "the journal". Hundreds of pages documenting their travels which included everything from Alaska Halibut fishing to her & Bob dancing on the Bobby Vinton show in Branson, Missouri. Oh yes, she loved to DANCE! In addition to her husband Bob, other survivors include her three children, Nancy Gaydosh, Vicki Berryman, & Bobby Pennington all living in Arizona. Brothers Bill & Jack Schroeder living in Indiana. Her sister-in-law Sharon Stomm who lovingly helped take care of Phyllis early in her decline, & loving in-laws Bo Gaydosh, Marva Penning-ton, Carol & Betty Schroeder and Don Stomm. Grand Children include Terri Lawrence, Ronald Hylton, Kandi Hylton, Bryce Berryman, Mark Berryman, Lee & Bobbi Pennington. Great grand children include Anthony Dockery, Derrick, Amber & Jacob Lawrence, April, Tabitha & Timothy Bowker, Ronald, Candice, Amanda & Tiffany Hylton and Evan Berryman. We would be remiss not to mention all of Phyllis's extended family at Encore Sen-ior Village, her Alzheimer's care facility that lovingly took over her care in the last stages of her illness. Julie Spoffard, Deb Gillette and Trinity Hospice, just to mention a few, are truly angels of mercy. Phyllis was preceded in death by her son Billy Pennington and her grand-daughter, Kimberly Hylton. Bob and the kids truly believe that old saying, "good things come in small packages". To them, no greater wife or mother existed. A memorial service will be held to honor her life at Heritage Funeral Chapel, 6830 W. Thunderbird Road, Peoria, AZ, 85381 on Friday, the 19th of December. Visitation from 9 AM to 11 AM followed by a brief service starting at 11 AM. Published in the Arizona Republic on 12/18/2003.
Posted by Vince James Eagle Scout Project on May 13, 2010

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