FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A 94-year-old man died of coronavirus at the Veteran's Hospital in Fayetteville Monday (May 4), according to the Washington County Coroner Roger Morris.
Raymond Pennington has been identified as the victim, a World War II veteran.
Raymond Pennington
Typically veterans who die in the Veteran's Hospital are honored with a procession down the hospital hallways. Since Pennington was a COVID-19 patient, they were unable to do that.
Morris said Pennington's body will be escorted to the funeral home to honor his life and service on May 6.
Pennington was born on May 24, 1925, in Cincinnati, OH. He was a graduate of the University of Cincinnati and relocated his family to Fayetteville, Ark., to open a Baldwin Piano and Organ plant in the 1950s.
Pennington served in the Navy on the USS Mackenzie during World War II.
His wife, Margaret Ellen (Peggy) Pennington was a teacher in the Fayetteville public schools for more than 30 years.
His daughter Nancy lives in Rhode Island and wasn't able to attend the procession held for her father. She says the procession honoring Pennington was especially poignant because her dad was proud to serve his country.
"He loves being in the Navy and I didn’t realize until this how few World War II veterans I guess we still have there. I didn’t fully appreciate his service," she said.
His passing is the fourth coronavirus-related death reported in Washington County.
On April 27, Washington County Coroner Roger Morris reported that another resident staying at the Brookstone Assisted Living Community in Fayetteville died from the virus.
RELATED: Third Washington County resident dies from coronavirus, identified as an assisted living resident
Pennington was a resident at the Brookstone Assisted Living Community.
Two other coronavirus-related deaths were reported in the Springdale area on April 23.