Patsy Ruth Penney

Patsy Ruth (White) Penney, 96, of Jonesboro, Arkansas, passed away on September 1, 2025. She was born on March 11, 1929, in Greenwood, Mississippi, to Herman Cecil and Necie Ruth (Webster) White.

She grew up in Elaine, Arkansas, and attended Hendrix College in Conway before earning a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Arkansas State College (now Arkansas State University) and a master’s degree in counseling from the University of Mississippi. While at Arkansas State, she met Ned E. Penney, her husband of 47 years.

Patsy taught mathematics with dedication and joy at Arbyrd High School (MO), Marked Tree High School (AR), Central High School in Helena-West Helena (AR), and Phillips County Community College in Helena (AR). After retiring with Ned in Jonesboro, she spent countless hours caring for her lawn and gardens and pursuing her passion for genealogy research.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ned E. Penney, Sr., and her son, Ned E. Penney, Jr.

She is survived by her daughter, Cecilia Penney Lonnecker, and her husband, Thomas Lonnecker; grandsons Mark Lonnecker (Casey), Alexander Lonnecker (Lauren Signorino), Matthew Lonnecker, and Jeffrey Lonnecker; and her brother, Herman White.

Graveside service will be Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery with family to speak.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Muscular Dystrophy Association.