Edna Louise Clark Pennock Phillis

 Edna Louise Clark Pennock Phillis  of Beverly, Ohio, 91, passed into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on September 8, 2022 at Traditions of Lebanon, Ohio. She was born at her grandparents’ homeplace (Rev. Walter and Blanche Clark’s) in Center Bend, Morgan County, Ohio on January 26, 1931 to Curtis and Lucille (Welch) Clark.   She attended Hackney Elementary School, and graduated from Manchester High School in Reinersville, Ohio, Class of 1949. 

Right after graduation, she married the love of her life, Russell Pennock on May 28, 1949.   They moved into the first house (of many) that Russell and his brothers (Pennock Brothers) built. Russ and Edna had 5 children, who survive:  Donna Pennock of Lebanon, OH; Rodney (Andrea) Pennock of Pensacola, Florida;   Elizabeth Pennock (Paul Shambarger) of St. Petersburg, FL;   Patricia (Don) Benedik of Commercial Point, OH;  and Mary (Patrick)  Bookman of Lebanon, OH. 

Edna was a faithful servant and follower of Christ, and a lifelong member of Smith’s Chapel United Methodist Church. She taught Sunday School and was a member of United Methodist Women and Morgan County Farm Bureau. Her faith never wavered, even as she underwent a 14-hour surgery in 1983 to remove a large benign brain tumor and again in 1984 when it recurred, leaving her with some facial paralysis and other challenges.  Even when Russell died July 30, 1985, she never lost faith.  She was hard-working, generous, and made a loving home where all felt welcome.  She enjoyed history, traveling, was an avid reader and letter writer. She loved her family especially her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Edna was predeceased by her parents, her husband Russell Pennock, her second husband John Phillis, brothers Herman, Norman, Cecil and Gerald Clark, sisters-in-law Carol Clark and Helen Lewis. Brothers-in-law Robert, Francis and Dean Pennock, Charles Lewis and many beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, and nephews. 

Besides her children, Edna is survived by 10 grandchildren: David (Rene) Pennock, Valerie (John) Samu, Donnie Miller, Kaitlyn (Derek) Smith, Grace Ann Tara, Andrew (Kristen) Shambarger, Christopher (Lindsay) Benedik, Shannon (Bharat Ramesh) Benedik; Jessica Bookman,  Alicia (Elijah) Davis, 14 great-grandchildren: Abrianna, Khora, Emerson, Fiona, Owen, Dhruv, Devna, Julie, Jackson, Greyson, Kyla, Kaeden, Drake, Fallon, brothers Edward (Janet) Clark, Ron (Cherri) Clark; sisters-in-law Miriam Clark, Arlene Pennock, Mary Lou Pennock and many nieces and nephews.    

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at Smith’s Chapel United Methodist Church on St. Rt. 83, Beverly, Ohio. Burial will be in Smith’s Chapel Cemetery. Friends may call 6-8 pm on Monday at McCurdy Funeral Home in Beverly and online condolences may be made by visiting www.mccurdyfh.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Edna Louise Clark Pennock Phillis, please visit our floral store.