Betty Jo Penny

Betty Jo Penny, 93 of Paragould died on Tuesday in Colorado Springs. Betty was a member of East Side Baptist Church, DAR and American Legion Auxiliary. In her earlier years, Betty was a telephone operator and a beautician. And after meeting the love of her life eventually was co-owner of Penny’s Upholstery in St. Louis, where they lived for 40 years. Betty and Rochelle returned to their hometown of Paragould and spent 26 years there.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Rochelle Penny; daughter, Karen Wilhelm; son, Stanley Penny; parents, Cleatis and Cumi Katrina Cole Baldridge and 2 sisters, Lois Mock and Charlotte Walker and granddaughter, Penny (Wilhelm) Johnson.
Survivors include her daughter, Cheryl Penny-Maloney (Mike Maloney) of Colorado Springs; son-in-law, “Dutch” Wilhelm; Daughter-in-law, Marci McKinney; 7 grandchildren: Erik Wilhelm, Kyle Penny, Jessica (Penny) Steffens, Jennifer Penny, T. Luke Coffin (Courtney), April Maloney (Peter), and Jesse Coffin (Amanda). And 10 great grandchildren: Ryan Johnson, Micah, Breckan, Rosalie Maloney, David, Noah and Luke Steffen, Charlotte Wilhelm, Gavin and Archer Coffin.
Visitation will be Friday from 6:00-8:00 pm at Heath Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Saturday at 2:00 PM at Heath Funeral Home with Rev. Packy Magel officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Please consider memorials to the Eastside Baptist Church or the Epsaba Cemetery Fund through First National Bank.