Wayne L. Penn

Wayne Lyman Penn, age 82, of Garnett, Kansas, passed away on Sunday, April 18, 2010, at Golden Heights in Garnett, Kansas. He was born on September 3, 1927 at Neodesha, Kansas, the son of Ira and Jessie (DeLong) Penn. Wayne grew up in the Neodesha area, attending Baumgardner Country School before graduating from Neodesha High School in 1945. In 1945 he entered the US Navy. He served aboard the U.S.S. Iowa and was stationed in Tokyo Bay as part of the Occupation Forces. Following his time in the service Wayne married Betty Lou Power on June 22, 1947 at Afton, Oklahoma. This union was blessed with four children. He then attended Railroad Community School in Kansas City, Missouri. This led him to a job as a telegrapher for the Santa Fe Railroad, in Arizona and New Mexico. After the railroad eliminated telegraphers, Wayne returned to Neodesha. He then began working at the Standard Oil refinery for the next 10 years. In 1961 they moved to Garnett where they began operating the APCO station. They later purchased the business, naming it Penn's APCO. Wayne operated the station for 25 years, retiring in 1987. Wayne was always an active member of anything that he was involved in. Some of his affiliations include: the First Christian Church, serving as a Deacon; Delphian Lodge; Scottish Rite of Fort Scott; lifetime member of the Mirza Shrine of Pittsburg; Hardly Able Fire Company; lifetime member of VFW, Post #6397; American Legion, Post #48; Wayne was also a Charter Member of: Garnett Optimist and the Bulldog Booster Club. He was a member of Garnett Chamber of Commerce for many years and was recognized by them as "Volunteer of the Year" in 2008. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; his son David Wayne Penn in 1975; five sisters, Inez Newby, Sylvia Newby, Evelyn Schwartz, Nettie Morgan, Mary Louise Lewis; three brothers, Joel Penn, Ira Penn, Jr., and Charles "Art" Penn. He is survived by his wife, Betty Penn of the home; three daughters, Susan Tush of Wichita, Kansas; Debbie Bassford and husband Kent of Wellington, Kansas; Becky King and husband Rick of Garnett, Kansas; eight grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 22, 2010 at the First Christian Church in Garnett, Kansas. Burial will follow in the Garnett Cemetery. Family will greet friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday evening at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel in Garnett, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mirza Shrine Hospital Dads or Anderson County Hospital Foundation or First Christian Church - Garnett.