Individual Details
Rhua Mae "Ginny" Howard
(17 Aug 1930 - 8 Jan 2015)
Virginia “Ginny” Penner, age 83, of Sturgis, passed away Jan. 8, 2015, at Sturgis Hospital.
She was born Aug. 17, 1931, in Arthur-Mable, Ky., a daughter of the late Green and Louise (Neely) Howard.
On July 7, 1947, she married Virgil (Gene) Penner in Auburn, Ind.
She had been a Sturgis resident since 1955, coming from Bronson. She became a licensed cosmetologist in 1973 and opened her business, Hair Fashion by Ginny. She and her husband owned and operated Sportsman’s Corner Store from 1980-1991 and they founded Gateway Twirlers Square Dance Club of Sturgis.
Ginny was a lifetime member of the Capt. John J. Kelley V.F.W. Post #1355 in Sturgis. She loved all animals and had a parrot, “Chico,” for 27 years. She enjoyed square dancing, listening to country music, doing hair for people and watching NASCAR.
Surviving are two sons of Sturgis, Steven R. (Janet) Penner and Rick (Laura) Penner of Sturgis; two daughters, Gloria Penner of Sturgis and Sandy Bradley of LaGrange, Ind.: nine grandchildren, Cathy, Steven E. (Tracey) and Todd Penner, Cassidy, Alea and Ian Penner, Lori (Dustin) Wohlers, Matt Meek and Vanessa (Brandon) Osborne; 14 great-grandchildren, Jessica, Janel, Brielle and Nicole Penner, Quinn and Dane Hambright, Dessa and Bryce Wohlers, Kayla Schmucker, Shelby, Phobe, Koehl and Mattalynn Meek, and Gracie and Paige Osborne; and a sister, Wanda Schrader.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a grandson, David Houck; and a brother, Jay Howard.
Services celebrating the life of Virginia “Ginny” Penner will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Rodger Moyer officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery.
She was born Aug. 17, 1931, in Arthur-Mable, Ky., a daughter of the late Green and Louise (Neely) Howard.
On July 7, 1947, she married Virgil (Gene) Penner in Auburn, Ind.
She had been a Sturgis resident since 1955, coming from Bronson. She became a licensed cosmetologist in 1973 and opened her business, Hair Fashion by Ginny. She and her husband owned and operated Sportsman’s Corner Store from 1980-1991 and they founded Gateway Twirlers Square Dance Club of Sturgis.
Ginny was a lifetime member of the Capt. John J. Kelley V.F.W. Post #1355 in Sturgis. She loved all animals and had a parrot, “Chico,” for 27 years. She enjoyed square dancing, listening to country music, doing hair for people and watching NASCAR.
Surviving are two sons of Sturgis, Steven R. (Janet) Penner and Rick (Laura) Penner of Sturgis; two daughters, Gloria Penner of Sturgis and Sandy Bradley of LaGrange, Ind.: nine grandchildren, Cathy, Steven E. (Tracey) and Todd Penner, Cassidy, Alea and Ian Penner, Lori (Dustin) Wohlers, Matt Meek and Vanessa (Brandon) Osborne; 14 great-grandchildren, Jessica, Janel, Brielle and Nicole Penner, Quinn and Dane Hambright, Dessa and Bryce Wohlers, Kayla Schmucker, Shelby, Phobe, Koehl and Mattalynn Meek, and Gracie and Paige Osborne; and a sister, Wanda Schrader.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a grandson, David Houck; and a brother, Jay Howard.
Services celebrating the life of Virginia “Ginny” Penner will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Rodger Moyer officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery.
Events
| Birth | 17 Aug 1930 | Arthurmabel, Magoffin County, Kentucky | |||
| Marriage | 7 Jul 1947 | Auburn, Dekalb County, Indiana - Virgil Eugene Penner |  |  | |
| Death | 8 Jan 2015 | Sturgis, St. Joseph County, Michigan | |||
| Burial | Oak Lawn Cemetery, Sturgis, St. Joseph County, Michigan | |
Families
| Spouse | Virgil Eugene Penner (1926 - 1993) |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Living |
Notes
Marriage
Virgil Eugene PennerSex Male
Residence Place Montgomery, , Michigan
Birth Date 21 Jul 1927
Birthplace Montgomery, , Michigan
Race White
Father's Name Clinton E Penner
Father's Sex Male
Mother's Name Klela Cook
Mother's Sex Female
Spouse's Name Rhua Mae Howard
Spouse's Sex Female
Spouse's Residence Place Fremont, , Indiana
Spouse's Birth Date 17 Aug 1930
Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated) 17
Spouse's Birthplace , Magoffin, Kentucky
Spouse's Race White
Spouse's Father's Name Green Howard
Spouse's Father's Sex Male
Spouse's Mother's Name Louise Neely
Officiator's Name E C Reidenbach
Marriage License Date 07 Jul 1947
Marriage License Place DeKalb, Indiana, United States
Event Type Marriage License
Endnotes
1. .
2. .