Dorothy Jane Penrod

October 28, 1935 - October 17, 2015

Mrs. Dorothy Jane Penrod, 79, of Louisiana, Missouri passed away on October 17, 2015 at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. She was born on October 28, 1935, the youngest of 8 children, to Jacob H. and Mary Ann (Vahey) Armbruster. She married her husband, Donald E. “Joe” Penrod on October 29, 1955. They had 3 children, Beverly Dawn (Penrod) Lawson, Joseph E. Penrod and wife Becky, and Brett C. Penrod. Beverly had preceded her in death in 2005. Dorothy was a genuine grandmother and was very proud of her 6 grandchildren; Joey Penrod, Tonya Sheppard, Megan Penrod, Tamara Lawson, Trace Penrod, and Kristine Penrod. She adored her 8 great-grandchildren and loved watching them grow; Will, Brady, and Halle Sheppard, Camdyn, Kaden, and Keaston Penrod, Barron Stoops, and Jackson Penrod. Born in Elsberry, she later moved to Paynesville and graduated from Clopton High School in 1954. After school, she went to work at Stark Bros. as a Punch Operator. Later she worked for Southwestern Bell as a Switchboard Operator. In 1980, Dorothy and her daughter Beverly opened Country Garden on Highway 79 where they grew not only plants but many friendships. In 2002 at the age of 67, Dorothy became a Real Estate Agent with Century 21 and Feldewerth Real Estate before opening her own agency, Penrod Real Estate, LLC, in 2009. She always exceeded in her jobs and even was recognized for her achievements. Dorothy was full of life and put her whole heart in to everything she did. In Dorothy and Joe’s younger years, they both had their pilot’s license and enjoyed flying in their 1952 Cessna 140A plane. Dorothy loved her family and friends, Louisiana and its history, the community, and everyone’s company at her shop. She loved being involved, and took pleasure in, being a member of the Louisiana Rotary Club. Dorothy loved making new people to the Louisiana community feel welcome. Her shop always seemed to be a welcoming place for new and old residents to visit. One of Dorothy’s favorite things was to see the beauty of nature by planting beautiful flowers every spring for the town to see. She loved her town and enjoyed helping to make it a beautiful place to work and to live. Dorothy will be very missed by the people she worked with and was around every day, and especially by all her family. With Dorothy’s love for the community, she would love to see it keep growing and improving. Memorials can be made in her honor to the Louisiana Community Betterment, Pike Pioneer Nutrition Center, or Donor’s choice. A private graveside will be at Fairview Cemetery, but we would like to invite everyone to a “Celebration of Life” on October 28th. This would have been Dorothy’s 80th Birthday. In her remembrance we will gather at Penrod Real Estate at 5:30 P.M. to have a balloon release. Sharing a memory or telling a story will be welcome. A dinner will follow our “Celebration of Life” at the First Presbyterian Church.