Dorothy Ann Pennypacker, 88, died 26 November 2021, at her home in Virginia Beach.

We are grateful to Jackie Brodie and Juanita Peele for their loving care in the last months of her life.  God who makes all things possible blessed us through them.  They modeled for us: Colossians 3:23, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,”

A memorial service will be held at Bayside Presbyterian Church in Virginia Beach at 2:00PM on 8 January 2022 and she will be interred with her beloved husband in the church’s columbarium. 

She was born 23 May 1933 in Henderson, NC where she grew up and graduated from Henderson High School.  Her first paid position as duster of a wealthy woman’s knickknacks left her with a distaste for them and a yearning for better employment opportunities.  A move to Hampton Roads where she began a career in Civil Service as a Department of the Navy civilian, gave her that opportunity.  She was a hard worker, recognized on multiple occasions for her outstanding efforts.  She retired with 30 years of service as a highly respected member of the Navy’s budgeting and accounting field with a career culminating as the Budget Officer of the Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek. She did all this while also serving as a Navy wife and as the mother two children.

Fantastic baker and candy maker, church sandwich maker and pantry shopper, lover of hotdogs, quick witted, gatherer of the lost, early riser, hard worker, eagle eyed, empathetic, funny, rule maker, insecure, loyal, strong willed, lover of music, soother, wise, foolish, ballroom dancer…. She was a fine human being.

She found the love of her life, William (Bill) Stuart Pennypacker, in her middle years and together they forged a marriage of total love and caring until his death in 2012. They enjoyed many common interests, especially travel.  Over a period of 20 years, they traveled the length and breadth of America and visited over 30 countries on five continents. Places like Thailand, China, Australia, Turkey and New Zealand gave them unusual transportation opportunities, including on animals most of us see only in a zoo. Their international travel was planned and executed meticulously each year by Dorothy’s favorite “travel agent” and much loved niece, Janice Seager, a woman determined to eclipse any itinerary a mere agency could offer.  Dot (and Bill) belonged to the travel party Janice and her husband, Ed, led each year, accompanied with a variety of special traveler friends, each grateful for the hard work the Seagers put into these excursions.  They set off for high adventure, collecting amusing stories to share with family and friends. 

Dorothy reveled in the opportunity to meet and interact with people from all walks of life, throughout the world.  Whether she met you while, working at the food pantry, disaster relief mission, or having high tea in London, she always made you feel as though you were the most interesting person she knew. A person of wit and charm, she loved to entertain and throughout her life welcomed friends and family into her home.  She had an eclectic collection of friends and touched many people with her love and generosity. “‘Friendship,’” said Christopher Robin, ‘is a very comforting thing to have.’” Dot was comforting indeed.

Today, she leaves behind her birth children—Deborah-Renée and Kevin and her children through marriage—Amy, Bill Jr, David, Dinah, Joe and Mary Lou; fourteen grandchildren—Clint Jr, David, Emma, Eric, Evan, Jill, Joey, Jonathan, Katie, Kelsey, Lucas, Ned, Reagan, and Spencer; and 3 great grandchildren— Nathan, Elliott, and Luciana,

She loved God and was clearly blessed by God.  He comforted her in her final hours and for a brief period, restored her ability to express her love for others.  God’s mercy, grace and love were a beacon in the lives of those who witnessed her passing.  Praise be to God from whom all blessings flow. 

In the immortal words of Winnie-the-Pooh:

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard….”     A.A. Milne

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A Memorial service will be held at Bayside Presbyterian Church, with a columbarium interment. Due to covid we will no longer be having a reception.

Date:  8 January 2022 Saturday Time: 2:00 PM 

Bayside Presbyterian Church 1400 Ewell Road, VA Beach, VA  23455

Office:  757-460-1188 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the church.