AIKEN, S.C. - Mr. Fred Warren Penix was born November 13, 1914 and died March 25, 2009 of congestive heart failure. He was a West Virginia native, a 1935 graduate of South Charleston, West Virginia High School and was employed by the DuPont Company at the Belle Plant in September 1935. He served a four-year apprenticeship in Planned Programs by the company, attending school part time as well as a four- year correspondence course from ICS of Scranton, PA. Upon completion, he was assigned to the Maintenance Department as a welder. On March 1, 1951, he was transferred to the Explosive Departments, Heavy Water facility at Dana, IN. One year later March 1, 1952, he was transferred to Savannah River Plant, Aiken, SC where he retired December 1977. He was an active member of St. John's United Methodist Church activities where he once served as a trustee and for several years as usher, head usher, and also as a host. He volunteered his service for several years in maintaining the buildings and equipment, keeping it in good operating condition at all times. He is survived by two sons, David Penix, of Augusta; Richard Penix and his wife, Annette, granddaughters, Michelle Malinski of Aiken; Mary M. Howard and her husband, Steve Howard of Augusta, Georgia; a great granddaughter, Margaret Alexandria Howard of Augusta; a great grandson, Jacob Warren Howard of Augusta; and several nieces and nephews. Also grieving his loss is his caregiver, Rannah Posey, who helped take care of him for several years. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eva Custer Penix, a son, Fred W. Penix, Jr., and a daughter, Nancy Penix Duncan. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at St. John's United Methodist Church with the funeral at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow in Aiken Memorial Gardens directly after the funeral. George Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 211 Park Ave, SW, Aiken is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John's United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 809, Aiken, SC, 29802 or to South Aiken Baptist Church, 980 Dougherty Road, Aiken, SC 29803. Expressions of sympathy for the Penix family may be directed through georgefuneralhomes.com. Sign the guestbook at AugustaChronicle.com

The Augusta Chronicle-March 27, 2009