Patricia Bruce Penny

Patricia Bruce Penny, 87, formerly of Danville, VA, passed away peacefully at CarolinaEast Medical Center in New Bern, NC on February 8, 2023.

Pat was born on August 2, 1935, in Overhills NC, to Walter E Bruce, Sr and Vernice Harris Bruce.  She attended Harnett County Public Schools. She earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Meredith College and her master’s degree from Virginia Tech.  Her long teaching career began at Virginia Beach where she met, on a blind date, the love of her life, a tall, lanky Navy guy that happened to be stationed there.  She married Edward N Penny, III on August 16, 1958. They moved to Yorktown, VA where she taught at Grafton-Bethel Elementary.  In 1966, they moved to Danville where she taught kindergarten and first grade at Sutherlin Academy and after the school’s closure, taught at Union Hall Elementary until her retirement.

After retirement she kept herself busy with her grandsons, substitute teaching and volunteering at her church.  In 2019, when she was no longer able to live independently, she moved to Arapahoe, NC to live with her daughter and son-in-law and spent extended periods with her son and daughter-in-law in Reidsville, NC.

Pat will be remembered as a dedicated teacher and selfless wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, always thinking of others before herself.  She was a lover of all animals and took in every stray dog or cat that was fortunate enough to make its way to her doorstep.

Pat is survived by her children, Piper Furgurson (Allen) and Ed Penny (Lisa) and her grandchildren, Travis Bowman, Taylor Bowman (Sandi,) Patrick Bowman, Ethan Penny and Evan Penny.  She is also survived by her devoted brother, Walter Edward Bruce, Jr., and many special nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and her husband.

Pat will be buried alongside her husband in Danville, VA at a later date.