Edward Waldon Penrod
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Edward Waldon Penrod, 87, of Metropolis, passed away at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 20, 2009, at home in the arms of his family, surrounded by love.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009, at the First United Methodist Church of Metropolis. The Rev. Gary Motta and Bro. Louis Brinker will officiate. Burial will follow at the Metropolis Memorial Gardens.
He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Metropolis.
A native of Southern Illinois, he was born and raised in the small village of Muddy. Ed attended Muddy Grade School, graduated Harrisburg High School, and while attending Southern Illinois University, he joined our nation's fight during World War II as a Marine. He later transferred to the Naval Air Corp were he was trained as a naval aviator.
After returning home from the war, he found his first love, Billie Allen, who was teaching at Muddy Grade School. They later married and raised three daughters, Susan, Cathy, and Paula.
In 1954 Ed started working at Electric Energy Inc. in Joppa. He became a star pitcher for the EEI fast pitch softball team. He retired from EEI after 29 years of service.
During his retirement he found his second love, Mary Kathryn Cohlmeyer. They spent their golden years fishing at Kentucky Lake, traveling and spoiling their grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Kathryn Penrod; a sister, Patsy Douglas; daughters, Susan Jo Welch and husband Wally of Kent, Ind., Cathy Lu Whiteley and husband Don of Mayfield, Ky. and Paula Jane Lampley and husband Randy of Metropolis; four grandchildren, Carly Grubbs and husband Joey, Corri Wooten and husband Bobby, Maranda Whiteley and Jacob Lampley; and three great-grandchildren, Christy, Amber, and Carson. He is also survived by his stepchildren, Gary Cohlmeyer of Robbins, Leslie Kay Hedger of Grapevine, Texas, Marilyn Schultz and Scott of Lacrosse, Wis., Jeff Cohlmeyer and wife Alysa of Evansville, Ind.; stepgrandchildren Emily Heagle and husband Chris, Theresa Sweetland and husband Wes, Natalie Cohlmeyer, Jeffery Boone Cohlmeyer and wife Brandee and Tirza and Alisha Hedger; great-stepgrandchildren, Milena, Delilah, Lucinda, Elaine, Tabatha, Ethan and Rebecca; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Billie W. Penrod; his parents, John Henry and Fannie Mae Penrod; and his brothers and sisters, Bert, George, Louise, Gilbert, Woodrow, Earnie, Dolly, Jake, Sinia, Helen and Joe.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009, at Aikins Farmer Funeral Home in Metropolis, and from 9 a.m. until the funeral hour on Wednesday at the church.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to C.O.P.E. of Metropolis, 1013 North Ave. Metropolis, Ill. 62960.
Aikins Farmer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.