Royce Weldon Pennington, Jr.

Royce Weldon Pennington Jr.,83, of Piedmont, OK passed into the arms of Jesus on July 26, 2024, after a valiant battle with dementia. Affectionately known as "Sonny," Royce was born on March 22,1941 in Fort Stockton, TX. He was predeceased by his parents; Royce Weldon Pennington, Sr. and mother, Marion (Sherrard)Pennington; brother, William "Bill" Pennington; and late wife, Betty "Jeanne" Pennington (mother of his children Jon and Jason Pennington).

Royce is survived by his wife, Carolyn (Rowan), Piedmont; and sons Jon Paul Pennington, Yukon, and Jason (wife, Jeanne E.) Pennington, Yukon, as well as his grandchildren: Chandler Pennington, Shelby Pennington, Delaney Pennington, and Kacie Pennington. He is also survived by his sister, Pat (Pennington)Merchant; stepchildren: Kristen (Robert) Rusch and Andy (Kara) Rowan and their children: Bryce Rowan, Blue Rowan, and Cody Rowan; in addition to numerous nieces and nephews.

Royce began kindergarten in Perry, Ok. but the family soon moved to Duncan, OK. where he would graduate from Duncan High in 1959. Royce then attended Murray State College on a football scholarship for 2 years before transferring to Central State University, Edmond. He graduated from Central State in 1964 with a bachelor's degree in education. It was while at Central State that he met and married Betty "Jeanne" Odom on November 27, 1964.

Royce began his teaching career at Northeast High School where he taught math while Jeanne finished her last year of college. They then moved back to Duncan, where he taught and coached at Duncan Jr. High School. The Pennington and Odom grandparents, who also lived in Duncan, were extremely excited when their first child, Jon Paul Pennington, was born in 1968. Royce then accepted a teaching/coaching position in OKC at Putnam City High School and soon after their second son, Jason David Pennington, was born in 1969. Royce went back to Central State University to get his master's degree in administration and counseling.

Royce spent 35 years in education as a teacher, coach, counselor, assistant principal, and head principal. He worked as an Assistant Principal at Hefner Jr. High and Mustang Middle School. The family moved in 1981 when he accepted the position of head principal of Piedmont High School. Although they still lived in Piedmont, both Royce and Jeanne finished their education careers in the Mid-Del School system with Royce serving as Assistant Principal at Carl Albert Junior High. They drove one car to work for twelve years to save money (of course!) and to be together during the hour-long trip, twice a day, to Midwest City.

During this time, Royce refereed jr. high, high school, and college football as well as high school wrestling for an amazing 33 years. He was proud when his "crew" was chosen to officiate the 1978 All-State Wrestling match and the 1991 State Football Championship. Royce also served as the President of the Oklahoma City Official Association and was honored to be inducted into the Oklahoma Officials Association Hall of Fame in 2013. He and Jeanne retired in 2000. Royce had made such an impact on countless students, teachers, coaches, and administrators in education over the years that wherever he went he saw previous students or teachers who remembered him after all these years! He was always friendly, ready with a smile, and quick to tell a story or give a handshake.

Royce did not sit around in retirement but seemed to get busier! He had three part-time jobs including: driving rental cars for Enterprise, mentoring first year teachers for UCO, and conducting in-school testing for NAPE. Royce became a member and eventually the President of the Canadian County Retired Teachers Association. He and Jeanne also loved to travel and would go on several bus tours a year. He went to forty-nine states, only missing Hawaii. He made it a priority for Jon and Jason's families to all go every summer on family trips for the last 20 years.

Even though there were good times, Royce had his share of tough times. Throughout his life, he survived a heart attack, quadruple bi-pass surgery and colon cancer. The most demanding thing he had to endure was the loss of Jeanne to pancreatic cancer in 2012. He stood by her side, caring for her at home, until the end of her life.

Although he kept busy after Jeanne's death, Royce wanted to find someone to share his life with. He met and married Carolyn Rowan in 2015. Royce and Carolyn enjoyed traveling, eating out and going to ball games. She gave him a new lease on life and a reason to enjoy life again.

Royce was highly active in his church, First Baptist Church of Piedmont, through his Sunday School class, serving as a leader of the J.O.Y. group (Just Older Youth), and serving as a deacon. Royce was a hard-working family man who left behind a legacy of kindness, humor, and faith. He instilled strong values in the lives of his sons and grandchildren and will be truly missed.

Celebration of life services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, August 1, 2024 at the First Baptist Church, Piedmont, OK, with inurnment following at the Kansas Cemetery, Piedmont, OK.