Donald Pennington

Donald “Don, Donnie” Richard Pennington was born in Manzanola, CO. on May 19, 1935. He was the middle child, 5th of 9 children, of Gibson Pennington and Mae (Moxley) Pennington. He had four brothers and four sisters. He was proceeded in death by his parents and three brothers, Clifford, Ralph, & Marion and by three sisters, Juanita, Doris, & Barbara.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Janice (Hollis)Pennington of La Junta, CO; brother, Dean (Mayrene) Pennington of Rocky Ford, CO; sister, Bonnie (Pennington) Hopkins of Rocky Ford, CO; two sisters-in-law, Lois Pennington of La Junta, CO. & Stella Pennington of Rocky Ford, CO; two sons, Roger (Debbie) Pennington of Bayfield, CO and Richard (Kathy) Pennington of Haiku, HI; also nine grandkids, 19 great-grandkids and eight great, great-grandkids; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces & great nephews as well as great greats.

Don’s life passion was fishing. He excelled as a baseball player, Motorcycle racer, Snowmobile racer, prairie dog shooter and was quite the pool shark. He also loved arrowhead hunting. He enjoyed jeeping the Colorado mountains every chance he got & took great pleasure in exploring and was great at spotting elk, deer, bear & delighted in feeding chipmunks. Most of all, he adored his life partner & wife, Janice & their two sons and grandchildren. He could make any child giggle with his impersonation of Donald Duck & any adult laugh with his jokes and unique wit. He will be missed by so many. He was truly one of kind.

Don & Janice spent the last 30 years retired after both worked at the Buena Vista Correctional Facility and The Eisenhower Tunnel. He had run the Electronics Maintenance Department at the tunnel.

They started traveling & fishing, visiting family & fishing, boating & fishing, motorcycling, hunting & fishing, finally moving back to La Junta in 2022 to be near family.

Family was one of the most important things in his life.

A celebration of Don’s life will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Church of the Nazarene.

Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.