Walter Lee Penn III, born in Henry County, Virginia, on June 24, 1940, died January 30, 2025, in Martinsville, Virginia, at King’s Grant Retirement Community with his wife, Melinda, at his side. His family is very grateful for the love and support provided by the caring staff from King’s Grant and Mountain Valley Hospice.
Walter, an FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot, took to the skies early, dusting crops and ducking power lines in his teens. Soon after, he helped pioneer sport parachuting in the early 60s, either flying a Norseman or jumping out of one. After obtaining a degree from Hampden-Sydney College, Walter served in the U.S. Army, first as a Lieutenant in the Dominican Republic until he was wounded by a grenade and then as a Captain in the Vietnam War for two tours until he was shot in the neck. He served with the 82nd Airborne and the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Along with a very leafy Purple Heart, the Retired Major, U.S. Army Reserve, garnered a Silver Star for rescuing his team.
After getting patched up and shipped to the states, Walter earned his Juris Doctor from UVA Law and practiced in numerous capacities over the years including Virginia Assistant Attorney General and Henry County Prosecutor, all the while pulling chandelles and hammerheads in his aerobatic biplane, “Yellow Streak.” He retired as a professor of aviation at Averett College.
Walter was predeceased by his parents, Walter Lee Penn Jr. and Sallie Hubard Penn, and his brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Gale Penn. Surviving are his wife Melinda Carter Penn, his children, William Letcher Pannill Carter Jr. and his wife Lisa, Coates Randolph Carter and his wife Trish, John Christian Penn, and grandchildren Bracken, Caitlin, Allison, Aleya, Grace, Sebastian, Ada, Wren and Damian and great grandson, Sabian.
Friends and family are invited to his memorial service at Christ Episcopal Church in Martinsville, 2 pm Saturday, February 8, 2025. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Wounded Warrior Project.
McKee-Stone Funeral Home, Martinsville, Va. is serving the family. To express condolences online, please visit www.collinsmckeestonemartinsville.com
