Richard Leldon Penn Jr. was born March 14, 1936, to Elizabeth and Richard Leldon Penn Sr. and passed away on Nov. 10, 2016, from leukemia.
Richard lived in Decatur through age 18 on 8th Avenue one block from Delano Park. He graduated from Decatur High School class of 1954. The early influence of his Uncle Charles Crawford, who died in a B-17 air fight over Germany and Belgium in 1943, inspired him to become a pilot. He graduated in 1959 in the first class of the Air Force Academy in Colorado and served 22 years as a fighter pilot of F4C Phantom jets.He received a Purple Heart for being shot down and injured in Vietnam. The account of his service in the Air Force and the mission he was on when shot down was reported in The Decatur Daily Aug. 15, 1966.
Recognized as one of the best fighter pilots of his generation, he served and lived every moment of his life with the academy honor code, “We will not lie, steal, or cheat.” He had degrees in engineering (BA), history (MA), economics (MBA), and military strategy. In his free time he enjoyed sailing and extensive travels. Forever the gentleman, he brought to all who knew him joy of companionship, boundless warmth, unwavering support, and true love.
Richard is survived by his wife, Eugenia Penn; son, Robert Penn and wife, Joanne; daughter, Valeria Penn and spouse, Walid Sghari; and three grandchildren, Alexander, Elizabeth and Sofia. Other survivors include his two sisters, Gay Penn Denham L’Abate of Decatur, Georgia, and Mary Penn, of Auburn, Alabama.
Richard was buried with full military honors on March 8, 2017, at 9 a.m. at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia
