Earl Penley

Asheville – Earl Penley, age 89, passed away on Thursday, February 9, 2017 at CarePartners Hospice Solace Center. A native of Buncombe County, he was the son of the late Henry and Nancy Penley. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by a grandson. Earl was a WWII United States Navy veteran who served on the ship USS Blackhawk in the Pacific Theater. He retired from Sayles Biltmore Bleacheries as a millwright and was a member of Patton Cove Gospel Mission in Swannanoa. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Lillian Banks Penley of Asheville; four daughters, Sandra Priest of Indian Trail, South Carolina; Barbara Leavitt of Dexter, Michigan; Rhonda Wood and her husband, Olin, and Sharon Parker all of Asheville; three sons, Bill Penley and his wife, Nancy, of Pisgah Forest, North Carolina; Tim Penley and Brent Penley both of Asheville; two sisters, Linda King of Asheville and Jean Roland of Mebane, North Carolina; one brother, Bill Penley of Asheville; six grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Private services were held.