Vada Penn

Vada Ruth Hibdon Penn (Mema), age 85, of Odessa, Texas passed from this life on Saturday, December 19, 2020. She was born in Bigfoot, Texas on May 4, 1935 to the late John Berry and Murtie Mae Jones Hibdon. Vada grew up in South Texas as the youngest of ten children. She attended Devine High School where she was a star softball player and active in numerous activities. After high school, she worked at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. On December 21, 1952, she married the love of her life, Jimmy C. Penn (Papa Jim). As newlyweds, they lived in Devine, Texas later moving to Austin to raise a family. After several years, Vada and family moved to El Paso. In 1964 the family was transferred to Odessa for opportunities in the oil and gas industry. Vada worked for the Ector County Clerk’s office for 14 years, retiring in 1997. She loved sports especially tennis, golf and bowling, having several 300 games. Her favorite part of the day was being outside in the sunshine. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She will be remembered and greatly missed by all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Jim Penn; son, Doug Penn; sisters, Mamie Mae, Myrtle Lee, Vivian, and Henrietta; and brothers, John, Vernon, William Laurence, Lyle, and Gene Donald. Those left to cherish her love and memories are her children, Cecil Penn and wife Shirley of Arlington, Mike Penn of Odessa, Mark Penn and wife Gena of Odessa, Clint Penn of Longview, and Sarah Penn Mangus and husband Kenny of Odessa, as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Memorial Service will be held Saturday, May 15, 2021, at 10:00 am at the Hurley Funeral Home Chaple in Devine with an interment to follow in Evergreen Cemetery in Devine. Anyone wishing to share memories, sign the guest book, or leave condolences, please visit www.hurleyfuneralhome.com