Elizabeth A. Pennington

After a long and courageous battle with COPD, Elizabeth “Betsy” Pennington passed peacefully from the arms of loved ones to the arms of Christ at Providence Hospice. Services will be at the Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel at 11:00 a.m., Monday, April 10, with the Reverend Wayne Williams officiating. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., prior to the service. A private family burial at Waco Memorial Park will follow the service. Betsy was born at Scott and White Hospital in Temple, Texas on July 4, 1934, and lived in Lorena. Betsy attended middle school at San Marcos Baptist Academy where she made lifelong friends. High School was at Tarleton and Waco High, graduating from Waco High in 1951 and attending Baylor University until her marriage to Larry in 1952. That union began a journey around the world, including 16 air bases, professional schools, and civilian assignments, while raising three wonderful children and making a home for the children along with many friends at each new challenge. Being a lifelong Methodist, Betsy would always make church connections an important part of each assignment. Betsy was the ultimate Air Force Officer wife, always being a leader within the military and civilian community, serving as President of Wives Clubs in Utah, Mississippi and California. After military retirement, Betsy accompanied Larry in 16 years of travel to Europe and Asia, living in Australia for a year before returning to Texas. Betsy was preceded in death by her parents, Walter Philmore Evans, Jr., and Margaret Ann (Greer) Evans. Along with hundreds of cherished friends from around the world, survivors include her husband, Col. (USAF Ret) Lawrence Pennington; son, Edward Pennington and his wife, Debbie; daughter, Margaret Ann Wise and her husband, Cullen “Stormy” Reeves, Jr; daughter, Lori Elizabeth and her husband, Jeffrey Mathis; brother, Dr. Walter P. Evans III and his wife, Laurie; grandchildren, Lori Wise, Elizabeth Goss and husband, Christian, Dr. Alyson Vokes and husband, Dr. Colin Vokes, and Marcus Pennington and wife, Morgan; great grandchildren, Trinity Wise, Christian Goss and Matthew Vokes and ‘Peanut’ Pennington by M and M to be named at birth; and several cousins and their children. Pallbearers will be Edward Pennington, Marcus Pennington, Cullen Reeves, Jeffrey Mathis, Christian Goss and Colin Vokes. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any gifts or memorials be made to The Methodist Children’s Home or Meals on Wheels. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.