Kenneth Pennington

Kenneth Eugene Pennington, 82, of New Salem, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on December 11, 2024. 

A Memorial Service to honor Ken’s profound life and legacy will be held at New Salem Baptist Church on Saturday, December 28, 2024 at 1:00 PM ET. A service with military honors will follow immediately afterwards.

Ken grew up on Lookout Mountain where he was born on the farm of his great-great-great grandparents Robert and Eda Boatman. Ken loved the history of his ancestors and was an avid historian. He attended school in Dade County where he was a star athlete. He was a three-year Golden Glove champion with Dade County’s boxing team and a member of the All-State Football team as a fullback. 

Ken served a year with the U.S, Navy Reserves before joining the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division as a paratrooper. His hobbies were hiking, hunting, camping, cave exploring, collecting Native American and Civil War artifacts, painting portraits and landscapes, nature photography and writing novels. 

Ken believed in God, loved his family, and cherished his friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Herschel and Evelyn Moore Pennington and his brother James Peck Pennington. He is survived by his dearly loved and wonderful wife Rebecca McMahan Pennington, his daughter Kamille (Aaron) Pennington Crowley, his daughter Rachel (Marshall) Pennington Smith and his son Joseph (Tina) Driggs Pennington. He loved his grandchildren, Brooke Smith Brumelow, Cain (Ashley) Smith, and Jonah Driggs Pennington. He also delighted in his wonderful great-grandchildren, Sadie Rose Smith, Sawyer Smith, Delilah Ruth Brumelow and Declan Brumelow. 

“God’s blessings of old age is bittersweet. You watch as your family and the friends of your youth pass away and you are helpless to intervene.” —Ken 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made out to Hawkins Cemetery (C/O Sharon Bradford: 12288 HWY 136, Rising Fawn, GA 30738) or to the Trenton American Legion Post 106 (P.O. Box 305, Trenton, GA 30752).