Obituary of Frank Lynn Pennington

Frank Lynn Pennington, age 71, passed away on Saturday, September 30, 2017 in Ardmore, Okla. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am, Wednesday, October 4, 2017, at The Church of Christ on Merrick Drive with Minister Timothy Hunt officiating. Interment to follow in Hillcrest Memorial Park, Ardmore, Okla.

Frank was born on April 4, 1946, in Salinas California, to Bill Pennington and Darline (Roberts) Pennington. Frank was a graduate of Ardmore High School in the Class of 1965. He attended Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, and received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1969. In 1967, he married Lynette Gurganus in Memphis, Tennessee, and from that union came his daughter Angelyn and son Ryan. The couple volunteered for missionary work in Japan 1969. Frank continued working toward earning his Master’s Degree at Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas, and at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Okla. In 1972, he became the Associate Minister at Northeast Church of Christ of Ardmore. He then took a job in Flushing New York as a minister and taught at a Christian high school. In 1975, they moved to Jackson, Mississippi, at Jackson Christian Academy. In 1980, his marriage to Lynette ended, and he took a teaching and coaching position at Thackerville High School, Thackerville, Okla. In 1985, he began working at Dickson Schools teaching science. In 1986, Frank returned to Northeast Church of Christ as the Youth Minister, where he met his soulmate, Patricia Ann (Redden Wilson) Hunt. They married in 1987 in Ardmore, Okla. The couple opened their home to the care of foster children. Frank became the Minister of Mannsville Church of Christ in 1993 and in 1995 was named the Athletic Director for Dickson High School. Frank began a challenge in his life when he became an amputee with the loss of his right leg in 1999. This became a driving force for him. He worked to overcome his loss and entered in the Endeavor Games in Edmond in 2001, and was invited to the International Endeavor Games in San Diego, California. Due to Frank’s health, he was forced to retire in 2004 from teaching. His challenges in life continued when later that same year his left leg was amputated. Frank overcame this new challenge and learned to walk with prosthetic limbs. Though the challenges continued to come with his health, he kept a positive uplifting attitude. He loved to work with his plants in his raised garden on his front porch.

Frank is survived by his wife, Patricia of the home; mother, Darline Pennington, of Oklahoma City, Okla.; sister, Marcia Liggon and  husband Harry, of Oklahoma City, Okla.; four daughters: Angelyn Pennington, of Chicago, Illinois,  Coy Jones and husband David, of Lone Grove, Okla., Cynthia Jones of Lone Grove, Okla., and Sandra Thach and husband Glenn, of Muskogee Okla.; three sons: Ryan Pennington and wife Melissa, of Gallatin, Tennessee, David Wilson and wife Trini, of Garland, Texas, and Timothy Hunt and wife Mendy, of Newcastle, Okla.; fourteen grandchildren: Nicholas Pennington, of Gallatin, Tenn.. Elliot Pennington, of Gallatin, Tenn., Patrick Jones and wife Rachel, of Ardmore, Okla., Tera Bynum and husband Malcolm, of Muskogee, Okla., Christopher Jones and wife Holly, of Norman, Okla., Brandon Thach and wife Elisha, of Tulsa, Okla., Seth Thach, of Muskogee, Okla., Kimberly Schreibvogel and husband Dustin,  Cody Jones and wife Kaylyn, Jennifer Jones,  and Matthew Jones, all of Lone Grove, Okla., Marissa Hunt, MacKenzie Hunt, and Micah Hunt, all of Newcastle, Okla.; fifteen great-grandchildren: Adam Jones, Avery Jones, Ethan Jones, Adler Jones, Jordan McKinnon, Marshall McKinnon, Addison Jones, Jovi Jones, Lukas Schreibvogel, Charli Schreibvogel, Tanner Thach, Riley Thach, Joshua Thach, William Thach, and Brittany Thach. Numerous nieces and nephews.

Serving as pallbearers will be Shane Labeth, Patrick Jones, Brandon Thach, Cody  Jones, Matthew Jones, and Dustin Schreibvogel.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday evening, October 3, 2017, from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Griffin ~ Hillcrest Funeral Home.