Mr. Kenneth �Ken� W. Pennington, age 70, of Amelia Island, FL., passed away on Sunday, March 5, 2017 at the Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach.
Born in Memphis, TN, he was the eldest of three children born to the late Billy Wade and Marie Elizabeth Neely Pennington. Ken grew up in Fairfax, VA where he was a graduate of W. T. Woodson High School, Class of 1964. Upon graduating from high school, he enrolled at Virginia Military Institute where he majored in History and received his BA. Ken attributed much of what he became to lessons learned at VMI and the school continued to be a part of his life long after leaving campus. After college Ken served in the United States Air Force and obtained the rank of Captain. Upon his honorable discharge in 1972, he returned home where he coached Baseball, Football and Wrestling at Woodson High School. Within a few years he moved to Naples, FL and coached at Naples High School. While teaching in Naples he met a fellow teacher, Barbara Lynn Deneen whom he would marry in 1976. Ken and Barb soon moved to Memphis where he joined his father at Continental Baking Company for a brief period before moving with Continental to Atlanta. Opportunity soon knocked and his career in the automotive industry began by joining Hertz Car Rentals in Atlanta, GA. Then, in 1982, Ken and Barb opened Accent Rent-A-Car in Snellville which grew from one location to multiple locations throughout the Atlanta area. They continued to operate Accent Rent-A-Car until selling the business in 2005.
Ken was committed to his physical conditioning, whether through his daily workouts at International Fitness in Snellville, GA, on the golf course, playing softball or enjoying a morning swim. His devotion to his physical well being and his ever present positive attitude were key components to living with not being bound by his long term condition.
Ken had attended Snellville United Methodist Church.
He leaves behind his wife, Barbara �Barb� Pennington, children, Kelly Dewyea and her husband, Victor Dewyea, MD, Augusta, GA, Brynn Pennington, Dacula, GA, Amber Pennington, Charleston, SC, a sister, Emily Upperman and her husband, Bob, Beaufort, SC, William �Will� Pennington, Atlanta, GA , favorite travel companions Dean and Kay Wucherer, Edgar, WI, four grandchildren, nine nephews, and seven nieces.
There is not a memorial or funeral service.
The family is keeping a private tribute at Ken�s request.