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Pennington -- Luther A. Pennington, 80, a lifelong resident of De Baca County, died Sunday, December 23, 2001 at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis following an illness. Luther was born August 13, 1921 in Fort Sumner to the home of Emmett Lee Pennington and the former Icy Bailey. He was reared and attended school at Fort Sumner, where he participated in football and track. Luther enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on June 4, 1942 and served until his honorable discharge on October 12, 1945. Luther married Lavania Sullivan on July 31, 1943 in Greenville, South Carolina. He returned to Fort Sumner where he operated a service station for two years. He later worked with his father repairing windmills, pumps, and drinking tanks. He operated Ranchers Well Supply for over 35 years before passing the business along to his son in 1984. Luther was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in Fort Sumner, Mount Moriah Masonic Lodge #54 where he served twice as Past Master, a Rainbow dad for over 20 years, and a longtime member of the Fort Sumner Cemetery Association where he served as Board president. He also was a past president of the Fort Sumner Ex-Students Association. Luther was preceded in death by his parents and a great-grandson, David Brian Brown. Survivors include his wife, Lavania Pennington of the home in Fort Sumner; a son, Robert Pennington and wife, Cindy of Fort Sumner; three daughters, Barbara Corbett and husband, Robert of Gansevoort, NY, Belinda Branson of Vancouver, WA, and Melody Garcia and husband, Jose of Fort Sumner; one sister, Flossie Pollard of Fort Sumner; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren, along with many friends. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, December 27, 2001 from the First United Methodist Church in Fort Sumner with Rev. Monty Leavell officiating. Burial will follow in the Pennington family plot, Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will include; Greg Pennington, Scott Pennington, Carl Brown, Michael Perry, Jose Garcia, Gordon Morris, Johnny Stallard, and Dave Bailey. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The family prefers memorials to the Fort Sumner Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 180, Fort Sumner, New Mexico 88119. All arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 804 North Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, NM. (505) 355-2311.
        Published on: Thu December 27, 2001