James W. Pennington of New Edinburg, AR passed away on Monday, May 26, 2025, at home. He was born on February 3, 1927, in Buhl, Tuscaloosa County, AL 10 minutes after his twin sister Jane was born. James is preceded in death by his parents, Henry E. Pennington and Margaret Foyles Pennington; 5 siblings, Ruth Pennington Vanauker, Grace Pennington O’Neill, Glen Pennington, Mary Pennington Bradshaw and Jane Pennington Notten Kamper. Also preceding him in death was his wife of 69 ½ years, Bernice Thompson Pennington.
James is survived by his daughter Margaret Peek of New Edinburg, AR; two sons, Larrry Pennington of Star City, AR and Jim Pennington of Mena, AR; four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
James was a member of Church of Christ of Rison. He served in the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division in World War II and 363 RD AMO EO in Korean War. He married Bernice Thompson on November 17, 1951, when he returned home from the Korean War. James fell in love with Bernice the first time he saw her and heard her voice sing; she could sing better than anyone he had ever heard. No one ever loved their wife more than our father loved our mother. Paw Paw always said MaMa with her beautiful brown eyes put the beauty in our family. Paw Paw said he had the most perfect mate in every way.
James worked the first eight years of his marriage for U.S. Army, Dept of Defense as a munitions specialist with “top secret” clearance. Then transferred to postal service for 25 years, then to the post office in Warren, AR. His hobby was running his “ground hog” sawmill that he built from scratch by himself.
Funeral service was held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 30, 2025, at Frazer’s Funeral Home. The burial was in Oakland Cemetery by Frazer’s Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Bradley County Veterans Museum.
