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IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Robert Earnest
Penn
May 28, 1912 – March 12, 2014
Obituary
Born in 1912, Robert E. Penn departed this life on March 12, 2014 after a short illness.
Robert Penn was the youngest of three sons born to the late James R. Penn and Sarah Young Penn. He attended Abraham Lincoln School and Booker T. Washington High School where he graduated with a certificate in Carpentry. Initially, Robert Penn was a member of Central Baptist Church, Berkley but later changed membership to Saint Thomas A.M.E.Z. Church after his marriage to Cartheinia C. Fuller in 1939. He was later appointed to stewardship at Saint Thomas.
During his young working years, Robert Penn was employed by Hewitt's Store in a general capacity, both inside and outside the store – delivering grocery orders, weighing out staples, etc. With World War II, he was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served as a truck driver in both Italy and Africa for nearly three years.
After his discharge at the close of the war, he sought employment at Procter and Gamble Co., in Portsmouth, Virginia where his brothers were also employed. Robert Penn spent the next 33 years working at Procter and Gamble initially as a Mail Courier and later in the Winter Oil Plant and lastly as a Roaster Operator (JIF Peanut Butter). He retired in 1974 and managed to keep busy in the neighborhood mowing grass for widows, running errands for others as doctor appointments, buying groceries, etc.
Robert Penn leaves to remember him, two daughters, Cartheinia Roberta Gross and Natalie Lassiter; son-in-law, Johnnie Lassiter; grandsons, Brian Penn and wife Jennifer, and Jarrod Lassiter; great grandson, Anthony Penn; niece, Carolyn Penn Brown and many other cousins, along with many nieces and nephews by marriage. Robert Penn led a quiet yet happy life and will be remembered that way. He was a devoted and dependable family man and father.
"He will swallow up death in victory, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces." Isaiah 25:8
A funeral service will be held Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at Pretlow and Sons Funeral Home, Chesapeake. Interment will follow at Roosevelt Memoroial Park. Viewing will be held from 2-6pm Monday at the funeral home.
Robert Penn was the youngest of three sons born to the late James R. Penn and Sarah Young Penn. He attended Abraham Lincoln School and Booker T. Washington High School where he graduated with a certificate in Carpentry. Initially, Robert Penn was a member of Central Baptist Church, Berkley but later changed membership to Saint Thomas A.M.E.Z. Church after his marriage to Cartheinia C. Fuller in 1939. He was later appointed to stewardship at Saint Thomas.
During his young working years, Robert Penn was employed by Hewitt's Store in a general capacity, both inside and outside the store – delivering grocery orders, weighing out staples, etc. With World War II, he was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served as a truck driver in both Italy and Africa for nearly three years.
After his discharge at the close of the war, he sought employment at Procter and Gamble Co., in Portsmouth, Virginia where his brothers were also employed. Robert Penn spent the next 33 years working at Procter and Gamble initially as a Mail Courier and later in the Winter Oil Plant and lastly as a Roaster Operator (JIF Peanut Butter). He retired in 1974 and managed to keep busy in the neighborhood mowing grass for widows, running errands for others as doctor appointments, buying groceries, etc.
Robert Penn leaves to remember him, two daughters, Cartheinia Roberta Gross and Natalie Lassiter; son-in-law, Johnnie Lassiter; grandsons, Brian Penn and wife Jennifer, and Jarrod Lassiter; great grandson, Anthony Penn; niece, Carolyn Penn Brown and many other cousins, along with many nieces and nephews by marriage. Robert Penn led a quiet yet happy life and will be remembered that way. He was a devoted and dependable family man and father.
"He will swallow up death in victory, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces." Isaiah 25:8
A funeral service will be held Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at Pretlow and Sons Funeral Home, Chesapeake. Interment will follow at Roosevelt Memoroial Park. Viewing will be held from 2-6pm Monday at the funeral home.
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