William F. Penwell November 15, 2021

William F. Penwell (Bill), a longtime Greenwich resident, died peacefully surrounded by family on November 15th, 2021. Born September 25, 1932, in Oklahoma City, OK, he was the son of Cleva (Daubenheyer) Penwell and Clifford Orlon Penwell, both deceased. Bill is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mary Jane (Ryan) Penwell; his three sons, Wm. Christopher Penwell and wife, Jennifer, of White Bear Lake, MN, Michael J. Penwell of Eugene, Oregon, and Stephen B. Penwell and wife, Kim, of Westport, CT; his eight grandchildren, Melissa, Madelaine, Benjamin, Samuel, Michelle, Trevor, Bryan and Hope; two greatgrandchildren, Connor Eldridge and Ellianna Penwell; sister-in-law, Brenda Penwell of Scottsdale, AZ, who was married to Bill’s deceased brother, Donald L. Penwell; brother-in-law Bruce E. Ryan and wife Shelia, of Dallas, TX; and many nieces and nephews. Bill attended Oklahoma State University before transferring to Oklahoma City University to take advantage of a basketball scholarship. After graduating with a BS in Business Administration in 1954, he was accepted by the Navy Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI. He served in the Navy for 5 years as a Supply Corps Officer, first on a destroyer based out of Newport, RI, and then for a squadron of planes in Jacksonville, FL. After leaving the Navy, Bill moved to Dallas, TX with his young family where he started civilian employment at Top Value Enterprises. In 1971, he was recruited to serve as President of the incentive and travel division of the Carlson Companies in Minneapolis, MN. In 1977, he joined the Sperry & Hutchinson Co., and was eventually promoted to President and CEO. This necessitated a move and the Penwell family settled in Greenwich, CT, where they lived for more than 40 years. While living in Greenwich, Bill was a board member, Treasurer, Vice Commodore and two-term Commodore of the Belle Haven Club (1987-1988). He also served as a board member and President of the Belle Haven Land Co. and as Treasurer and President of the Putnam Hill Cooperative Apartments Board of Directors. In retirement, one of his favorite activities was serving as “Head Hacker” of the Belle Haven Club’s golf program for over a decade. Bill was a member of the First Congregational Church of Greenwich for over two decades where he served on numerous committees. There will be a memorial service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 20, 2021, at the First Congregational Church of Greenwich, 108 Sound Beach Avenue, Old Greenwich, CT. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Music Program at First Congregational Church (fccog.org) or The Smile Train (smiletrain.org) in honor of one of his grandchildren.