Flora E. Pennell

   Flora Estella McVey Pennell, of Middletown, NY, died on Sunday, January 20, 2019 in the comfort of her own home. She was 92 years old and had lived a wonderful long life filled with many joys and lots of happiness with her family and friends who’s lives she touched in so many ways.  She was born in Middletown, NY on May14, 1926; the only child of Hilda Mae Terwilliger and Edgar Samuel McVey.

    Flora was a resident of Middletown, NY  her entire life were she attended school and graduated in 1945.  She was a member of the band and the choir, but also got involved in the school newspaper.  Then went on to receive degrees from OCCC, New Paltz, and Oneonta colleges.  For over 80 years she enjoyed being with the Webb Horton Presbyterian Church were she loved singing in the choir, as well as, being a part of the bell choir.  Flora had a life long association with The Salvation Army and in the last 25 years she enjoyed a more active role as a member of the Church, advisory board, women’s league and senior programs.  She found great joy in having the opportinity to be helping others in anyway that she could.  Over the years she was also a Boy Scout leader, a member of the Garden Lovers and the Middletown Senior Center.

    Over the years, starting back in 1948, Flora worked in many different places, enjoying her many different abilities and talents.  There was Montgomery Wards back while in junior high school and the Manhattan Shirt Factory.  She worked at OCCC as the Business Office Clerk, the Principle Accounts Clerk, and the very first Business Manager of the College Alumni.  Flora also was able to show her love of working with children as an elementary and art teacher at Truman Moon Elementry School, as well as, a guidance counselor for the Pine Bush and Circleville school districts.  For a number of years she enjoyed very much also working for the United States Postal Service.  She retired in 1990 to care for her husband Knowlton Edward Pennell (Penny).  He was the love of her life.  They met while she was working at OCCC where he was an English Professor and they married on March 16, 1962.  She was widowed after 33 years of marriage.

    Flora had many interests in her life.  She enjoyed sports, drawing and painting, crocheting many things for babies and children, gardening, creating walkways, and loved to read and do puzzles.  However, she became known best as an advid quilter, having made hundreds of quilts and pillows over the years as gifts.  There wasn’t much of anything that she didn’t want to learn to do.  Most of all, she was a woman with a heart of gold who changed the lives of everyone she met in one way or another.  Flora took great pride in her family and had a great love for all of her grandchildren.

    Flora is survived by her son David Pennell, her daughter Ruth Albertz and husband Rene Albertz, her grandchildren Kyle Conklin, Brittany Cherry and husband Michael Cherry, Thomas and Andrea Albertz.  As well as, her great granddaughter Anastazia Conklin.

     A Memorial Service will be held at 6 PM Wednesday, January 30th at the Middletown Salvation Army, 80 West Main St., Middletown, NY. Major Mary Moore will officiate. A repast will take place immediately following the service.

    In lieu of flowers, the family would like you to consider memorial contributions to the Middletown Salvation Army, 80 West Main St., Middletown, NY 10940 or to the SUNY Orange Educational Foundation for the Knowlton E. and Flora E. Pennell Memorial Scholarship Fund, 115 South St., Middletown, NY 10940.

     Arrangements have been entrusted to Cornelius, Dodd & Connell Funeral Home, Middletown, NY. 

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