Walter Penrod

Walter Jay went peacefully to be with his Lord and Savior on March 9, 2022, surrounded by loving family members. His family thought he was recovering from his battle with Covid in January, however, that was not God’s plan. He enjoyed all 93 years. A celebration of his life will be held July 9th at 1:00 pm at the North Manchester United Methodist Church, with a gathering immediately following in the Fellowship Hall. He will be missed by many people in the numerous areas he influenced, but by no one more than his wife Mary Jenet, whom he met at the Indiana State Fair in 1949, introduced by Eric Holm, a member of the State 4-H staff. They married on November 10th, 1950, while both were students at Purdue University. Walter was born on August 11, 1928, on his grandparents’ farm near Claypool, Indiana. Walt was a graduate of Chester High School in 1946 and attended Manchester College for 2½ years, during which time he served a term as FFA State President. He finished his undergraduate degree at Purdue University, where he earned his BS in Agriculture Education in 1951. He was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity as well as several honoraries. He was drafted into the U.S. Army two weeks after he graduated from Purdue. After basic training, he served his country at Ft. Leonard Wood Army Base in Missouri for two years during the Korean War as a Medical Laboratory Technician. Mary Jenet joined him at Ft. Leonard Wood where their first child, Kathryn Marie, was born. After his discharge, Walt and Mary Jenet returned to Indiana. Walt taught vocational agriculture at Laketon High School and had a successful agriculture and FFA Program.Walt appreciated the learning value of youth activities such as FFA, judging teams, field trips and 4-H club projects. He encouraged student participation in these activities throughout his career. Walt was a sales representative for two years with Ralston Purina in northwest Indiana. He returned to North Manchester where he began farming. He taught vocational agriculture and science classes at Lagro High School and then moved to the newly opened Northfield Junior and Senior High School. While at Northfield, he served as the Indiana State President of the Vocational Agriculture Teachers’ Association. He received his master’s degree from Ball State University in educational administration and also guidance and counseling. Walt took additional graduate courses such as school finance, school law, curriculum development, and school administration at Purdue graduate school. He also received a superintendent’s license at this time. All of this while raising a family, teaching, and farming. Walt worked with a committee on the establishment of the Upper Wabash Vocational School (currently Heartland Career Center). This was the first vocational school of its kind in Indiana. It included the Metropolitan School Districts (Northfield, and Southwood), Manchester, and Peru schools. There were ten separate programs the first year. Walt was selected as its first director. They identified the courses they wanted to offer, such as welding, auto mechanics, food service, printing, secretarial, and others. Experts in their field were identified that were willing to teach these courses, who then needed teacher education and certification. The development of curriculum was one of many challenges that was met the first year. After several years of great success, Walt became Assistant State Director of the Department of Public Instruction, Division of Vocational Education, in Indianapolis. While there, he assisted in developing vocational schools across the entire state. Another proud accomplishment is that he served on the planning committee for the creation of the Indiana FFA Leadership Center at Trafalger, Indiana, where he participated in the groundbreaking ceremony. He then became the State Director of the Indiana Rehabilitation Services, which provides education and training for people with physical, mental, and visual handicaps to prepare them with satisfying skills for employment. Walt represented Indiana as a consultant to the Rehabilitation Department of Rio Grande Do Sul which is in the southernmost state of Brazil, South America.His final position was the Executive Director of the Indiana State Advisory Council for Vocational Education from 1977 until he retired in 1989. He was the recipient of many forms of recognition including Distinguished Hoosier Award by the Governor of Indiana in 1971, Indiana Rehabilitation Service award from Indianapolis Goodwill Industries 1973, Certificate of Appreciation by Indiana Employment and Training Association in 1982, and Distinguished Service to Profession award in 1984. Jim, his son, presented him with a Korea Veteran’s cap for his 90th birthday, which he wore with pride wherever he went. There have been countless people impacted by his work, which he felt was one of his true callings, “to help others improve themselves.” Walt and Mary Jenet enjoyed their summers at their farm near North Manchester and their winters in Sun City, Arizona. They were active in their church. Walt enjoyed craft activities such as working with leather, ceramics, clay, stained glass, and silver, as well as the computer club and other activities. As his family reflect on his farming career, Walt started farming as a little boy helping his grandpa farm with horses. He used tractors and mechanized equipment on his own farm, leading to the current situation where he greatly admired people who are farming with satellite-controlled equipment that actually makes appropriate decisions “on the go”. If there had been a tractor and wagon backing contest, he would have been the champion, but since there wasn’t one, his family at least were impressed watching him back two loaded wagons, hitched together, up the barn hill into the barn, as it was starting to rain. Walt and many in the family were fortunate to have visited all the lower 48 states on family vacations. Walt and Mary Jenet made a trip to Hawaii as a gift from their children for their 40th anniversary. They also enjoyed two auto/camping trips to Alaska, one of which was with Sharon and family. While driving around the beautiful USA, Walt would select rocks and special stones; one of his favorites was the Apache tear. His rock collection could fill a museum. He would take rocks home in any spare space in the car, in the trunk, under feet and even in the engine compartment! The family has traveled to most of the Provinces in Canada and to many parts of Mexico. He and Mary Jenet attended the special Chinese New Year’s Celebration in 2000 in Hong Kong (the Year of the Dragon) for their 50th wedding anniversary. Walt was a respected patriarch of the Penrod family in North Manchester. He was the president of the “Guilford Penrod” family reunion (a noon and afternoon picnic) for at least 25 years off and on, and he was often looked to for leadership, mentoring and guidance. The family appreciates the work Walt did on the 120-page book Penrod Family Tree 2008 that he provided to each family. His book contains historical genealogical family information dating back to John Penrod Sr (1725 – Feb. 6, 1799) and includes data through the year 2008. Walter loved his family and provided many opportunities to grow and experience new things through vacations, working together on the farm, fixing up rental houses and building the home they have lived in for 40+ years. Walt always looked forward to the many 4th of July celebrations, an extended gathering over several days, held at Sharon and Bob’s home for over 30 years that included his whole family. He really enjoyed the four special anniversary events, His 25th anniversary party at Hollyhock Hills, one for his 50th wedding anniversary at Holden Beach, as well a 60th anniversary party at his farm and another surprise 65th anniversary party during a reunion at Sharon’s. Walt cherished spending time with his family and it was a highlight of his life. He loved seeing and visiting with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and seeing how they were growing and talking with them about activities they were involved in. The young ones really enjoyed tractor rides with their “Papa” or “Grandpa”. Walt always treasured the pictures: individual ones, family ones, entire family group ones and snapshots of activities at the reunions as well as other pictures that he received throughout the years. Walter is survived by his loving wife of 71+ years, Mary Jenet (Elder) Penrod, five children, twelve grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren: Kathryn Marie Penrod Curtis (Otis), of Brookings, South Dakota Sergei (Kinsley) Maria (Addison, Andre) Sharon Louise Johnson (Bob), of Plain City, Ohio Benjamin Daniel and Amy Johnson (Ian, Natalie) Rebecca David Amy and Shawn Swaagman (Theodore, Peregrin) Susan Diane O’Rourke (Dennis), of Spartanburg, South Carolina Colleen and Paul Marshal (Anthony, Zaria, Shiann) Jessica and Ryan Ertle (Elodie, Addilyn, Isaac, Everett) Kyle Marilyn Penrod Murphy (Kurt), of Sun City, Arizona Walter James “Jim” Penrod (Laura) of McLeansville, North Carolina Walter “Jared” James And many beloved nieces and nephews. Walter Jay was preceded in death by his parents Walter J. and Beulah Marie (Cauffman) Penrod, brother John Lee Penrod and wife Alyce Jean Parker Penrod, sister Helen Marie Penrod Morton, and husband Chauncey “Vic” Morton. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local FFA chapter.