Thomas Penney

Lt. Col. Thomas F. Penney, 95, a long-time Gulf Breeze resident, passed away on June 29, 2015, in his home surrounded by family. Penney was born April 20, 1920 in Chicago IL to the late Claude Byrne and Angeline Frances Fleming Penney. He is predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Veronica "Vera" Kennedy Penney. Col. Penney began his distinguished 20-year military career in 1938 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in the Philippines with the 60th Coast Artillery Anti-Aircraft unit. As WWII approached he attended Officer Candidate School. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant he was assigned to the 603rd Coast Artillery in Ft. Bliss, TX. In 1944 Penney joined the Office of Strategic Service (OSS), a top secret unit that was the predecessor to the CIA. In the OSS, Penney served in Japanese-occupied China where he commanded a team of Chinese nationals in guerilla warfare. At the end of WWII, he served in the European theater as a Provost Marshal of the 27th Constabulary in Germany. Following his return to the U.S. he was a paratrooper in the 11th Airborne, completing 100 jumps. In 1951, Penney was stationed in Korea where he served as a G-2 Advisor to Korean Military Advisory Group and commanded a coast artillery unit from the 9th Corp Headquarters near the 38th Parallel. Prior to his retirement he was stationed in 5th Army Headquarters where he served in the Inspector General's office. During his military career, he received 11 decorations including the Bronze Star. In 1958, Penney retired from active duty in the Army and served in the Army as a civilian for another 20 years, primarily writing contracts and Federal Acquisition Regulations. Following his retirement in 1978 from civil service, Penney and his wife lived in Virginia where he dabbled in real estate and enjoyed boating on the Potomac River. In 1988 Penney and his wife moved from Virginia to Gulf Breeze where he spent his retirement years traveling, fishing, entertaining visiting family, and working his many projects around the house and yard. He was a member of the China-Burma-India Veterans Association and the Knights of Columbus at St. Ann's Catholic Church. In 2010, Penney traveled to Washington, D.C. on the May 5 Gulf Coast Honor Flight, where he and 91 other military veterans visited their respective war memorials. Penney will be remembered as a decorated patriot, devout Irish Catholic, loving father and husband, a helpful friend and neighbor, and a determined and consummate "do-it-yourselfer". He will be deeply missed by his daughter Adele Penney Park and son-in-law Charley Park, his brother Robert Penney, his grandson James, and his nephews, nieces, and their families. A time of visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 1, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Rose Lawn Funeral Home in Gulf Breeze. A Mass will be celebrated at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Gulf Breeze on Thursday, July 2, at 11:00 a.m., followed by burial at Ft. Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Disabled American Veterans, 1401 W. Intendencia St, Pensacola, FL 32501 or to the Society of the Little Flower, 1313 N. Frontage Road, Darien IL 60561. Our family's gratitude goes out to Laura Andersen for her heartfelt and steadfast caregiving and companionship as well as to the Emerald Coast Hospice personnel for their professional care and compassion.

Visitation

Visitation

Rose Lawn Funeral Home
2942 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Gulf Breeze, FL  32563
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
5:00 PM

Service

Funeral Mass

St. Ann Catholic Church
100 Daniel Drive
Gulf Breeze, FL  32561
Thursday, July 2, 2015
11:00 AM

Cemetery

Burial

Barrancas National Cemetery
One Cemetery Road
Pensacola, FL