Judge J. Rodwell Penry

Judge John Rodwell (Rod) Penry, Jr. of Daybreak Lane, Lexington, NC died Thursday, February 14 at his residence.   A memorial service will be held at 4pm Sunday, February 17 at First Baptist Church, where he was a member, by the Revs. Dr. Ray Howell III and Tommy Wilson.  A private inurnment will be held in the church columbarium.    The family will receive friends from 2:30 to 4pm Sunday in the Church Fellowship Hall prior to the service.   Judge Penry was born July 28, 1945 in Davidson County to John Rodwell Penry and Dorothy Yow Penry.  He graduated from Central Davidson High School before attending Wake Forest University, where he received his undergraduate degree, and his law degree from Wake Forest Law School.  He spent 37 years in private practice, before he was appointed as Judge for the NC District 22A by Gov. Bev Perdue.  He served until his retirement in 2017.  His sisters, Janice Ann Penry and Jane Ellen Penry, preceded him in death.    He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Sturdivant Penry of the home; his daughter, Jane-Adelia Thomas Penry Harris and husband, Charles A. Harris, Jr., of Ft. Wayne, IN; his son, John Talmadge Penry of Lexington; and his granddaughters, Charlotte Adelia Harris and Abigail Jane Harris.      In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to First Baptist Church, PO Box 436, Lexington NC 27293 or to NC Childrens Home Society, PO Box 14608, Greensboro NC  27415.