Michael Keith Pennington

Michael Keith Pennington "Mike" passed away on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at his home in Lake Elsinore, Riverside County, California. He was born November 17, 1950, in Las Animas, Bent County, Colorado to Clifford Forrest & Betty Louise (Bond) Pennington.

Mike lived a good life. Mike, his parents and 2 brothers left Rocky Ford, Colorado and moved to Glen Avon, Riverside County, California in June of 1957. Mike attended Liberty School in Rocky Ford from 1955 to 1957. After moving to California, Mike attended Glen Avon Elementary School, Jurupa Jr. High School and graduated from Rubidoux High School with the class of 1968.

While attending school, he and his brothers, Wayne and Rick, would work at their father’s automotive/auto body repair shop, Rubidoux Automotive in Riverside, California. There they all learned to be mechanics and do body work and to have a car of their own, “had to get it running themselves”. Mike was a body man for many years in the Riverside/San Bernardino, California area. He was offered a job by State Farm Insurance as an adjuster/estimator and retired in November 2016 after 31 years with the company.

Mike did a lot of traveling, mostly by motorcycle. One summer, he and his friend Nelson Cheney rode in what was called the "Butt Buster" ride from California to Florida. They were allowed so many hours to ride to the most southern tip of Florida and made it with time to spare.

Mike met Mindy Cao and they were married on August 8, 2010. Mike and Mindy traveled. They traveled to Vietnam, England, Italy and France just to name a few places. In the early part of their marriage, Mike was baptized on April 23, 2011, in the St. Francis of Rome Catholic Church in Winchester, California. He became a 4th Degree Knight of Counsil #2247 and was a Grand Knight in the Knights of Columbus #7809 in Lake Elsinore, California.

Mike raised his 2 sons as a single father, Jason Clifford and Daniel Keith. Jason passed away on November 27, 2018 and Daniel on July 28, 2022. Mike is survived by his wife, Mindy Cao of Lake Elsinore, California; granddaughters, Josi and Bette Mae Pennington of Los Angeles, California; grandson, Clifford David Pennington & daughter-in-law, Elyse Cervantes Pennington, both of Los Angeles, California, and Kim Pennington; 2 step-sons, Vu of Orange County, California & Phoung Uyen Le of North Carolina. Mindy has 4 grandchildren who Mike adored, Andy, Jaslynn, Jaylie and Victoria.

He is also survived by his older brother, Wayne Pennington (Pat) of Golden, Colorado, sister, Dianna & husband Gary Hendren of La Junta, Colorado; sister-in-law, Cindy Pennington of Fallbrook, California; nieces & nephews, Cyndi Fehler (Dean) of Sparks, Nevada, Jennie Vie (Pete), Arvada, Colorado, Joshua Pennington, Colorado Springs, Colorado, David Pennington (Christine) of Henderson, Nevada, Trevor Pennington of La Junta, Colorado, John Bucalo (Gretchen) of Oceanside, California, Anne Bucalo of Oceanside, California, Jason Ford (Dorsey) of Kelso, Washington; 19 great nieces & nephews, 7 great-great nieces & nephews; uncle, Dean Pennington, Rocky Ford, Colorado, aunts, Bonnie Hopkins, Rocky Ford and Lois Pennington & Janice Pennington both of La Junta, Colorado; and many, many, many cousins on his Bond & Pennington sides of his family.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford F. Pennington in June 1993 and his mother, Betty L. (Bond) Pennington in April 2015, his 2 sons, Jason Clifford Pennington and Daniel Keith Pennington; younger brother, Rick Pennington; his paternal grandparents, Gipson F. Pennington and Malpha Mae (Moxley) Pennington, Manzanola, CO, and maternal grandparents, Wayne T. Bond and Grace V (Van Zant) Bond, Las Animas, CO.

The ashes of his sons will be buried with Mike at the Las Animas/Bent County Cemetery in Las Animas, Colorado.

A Catholic Mass was held on October 22, 2025, at the St Frances of Rome Church in Winchester, California and honored by the Knights of Columbus Council, 7809 of Lake Elsinore, CA. Urn Burials will be held July 18, 2026, at 11 a.m. at the Las Animas/Bent County Cemetery in Las Animas, Colorado.