Walter Richard Penrod

Walter Richard Penrod, 84, of New Philadelphia, died peacefully early Thursday morning in New Dawn Health Care Center following a lengthy illness.Born June 22, 1918 in New Philadelphia, Walt was one of eight children of the late George Richard and Catherine Marie Engeldinger Penrod. As a child, he attended the former Oak Grove School, situated on what is now the campus of Dover High School.During World War II, Walt served in Battery “F” of the National Guard Artillery.Reared in Dover, he moved to New Philadelphia when he married the former Flora Ferchill on November 25, 1942 in Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Mr. Penrod worked for CCC Highway Trucking Co. as a driver, out of Canton before retiring from Rapid Air Freight at Akron Canton Regional Airport. Along with his wife and son Jim, Walt was a member of the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum. He was also a member of the Loyal Order of Moose in Uhrichsville and was a former member of the Dover VFW Post 3463.Walt was a skilled woodworker. He enjoyed vegetable gardening and will be remembered for his thornless blackberries. Walt enjoyed all things centering around his family, especially family vacations. In addition to his wife of sixty years, his family includes a daughter, Joan (Harry) Wilson of New Philadelphia and sons Richard (Judy) Penrod of New Philadelphia and Dale (Emily) Penrod of Rio Rancho, NM; granddaughters Nicole (Jason) Incarnato of Dover, Renee (Troy) West of Dover, Alicia Wilson of Dover and Janice Wilson of Blacklick O; great-granddaughters Kaitlyn West and Alyssa Incarnato and a great-grandson Brock West, all of Dover; and a sister, Pat (Ray) Espenschied of Dover. In addition to his parents, Walt was preceded in death by a son, James Edward Penrod on June 30, 2002, three brothers, Joe, Max and Robert Penrod and three sisters, Viola Lindsay, Wilma Lindsay and Maxine Wigglesworth.Friends may call Sunday from 3 to 6 PM at the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home with a Christian Wake Service beginning at 5:30. A funeral mass, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church will begin at 2 PM Monday. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in New Philadelphia. Family and friends are invited to gather for a meal in the Geib Family Center, adjacent to the funeral home, following the committal service.In gratitude for their exemplary service, the family requests that memorials contributions be made to Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 201 West Third Street, Dover, OH 44622.