CITIZEN-TIMES.com: Obituaries

Lt. Col. John H. Pennstrom, Jr.

Arden – John Howard Pennstrom Jr., 84, 132 Royal Pines Drive, Arden, died Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007, after a lengthy illness. A native of Newark, N.J., he was the son of the late John Howard Sr. and Laura Desideria Pennstrom.

Lt. Colonel Pennstrom, a military veteran of 22 years, served in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Air Corps and U.S. Air Force, completing active duty at Strategic Air Command Headquarters as plans officer in the Policy Branch in 1964. After retirement, he returned to college, graduating with a degree in business administration. In 1969, Jack accepted another assignment from the USAF, relocated to Enka, and established an Air Force ROTC program at Enka High School. The Colonel

had over 1,000 ROTC Students during his 15-year tenure, many of whom matriculated to active duty and have had distinguished military careers themselves.

Jack was always busy; following his second retirement, he worked at H & R Block, volunteered for the American Red Cross as a CPR / first aid instructor, and enjoyed his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and woodworking hobby.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Marguerite Josita Lowery Pennstrom and his brother, Robert.

John is survived by his brother, Richard of Jamestown; daughters, Patricia Noel Koehn and husband, Steve, of Round Rock, Texas, and Barbara Louise Houston and husband, David, of Asheville; sons, John Terrance Pennstrom of Arden, and Thomas Michael Pennstrom and wife, Debra, of Asheville; 13 grandchildren, Charlie, Prentice, Zach, T. Mox, Laura, Kenneth, Stephanie, Shawn, Tray, Margaret, Michael, Brandon and Tyler; eight great-grandchildren, Kenneth, Jordyn, Korey, Wildt, Konner, Abigail, Paite and Gus.

Visitation will be from

4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Restoration World Outreach Center, 15 Airport Road, Arden.

The funeral service and interment will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery, 962 Old US 70 Hwy., Black Mountain, with his niece,

the Rev. Dr. Karen Barrinieu of St. Bethlehem United Methodist Church, Clarksville, Tenn., officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to CarePartners Hospice, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813; or American Red Cross, 100 Edgewood Rd., Asheville, NC 28804.

Morris Funeral Home, Arden Chapel is assisting the family. Condolences may be e-mailed through the funeral home's Web site at www.morrisfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Published: 2007-01-07