Dr. George Penn

George M. Penn, MD, 77, Nellysford Virginia, formally of Topeka, passed peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday, January 18, 2008. George was born April 14, 1930 in Orange County, New Jersey to Marion and Francois Penn. He lived there until the age of twelve when his parents passed away. He finished school in Hillsborough, Texas where he was raised by his aunt and uncle, Nina and Richard Ince and their son Dick. George attended one year at Purdue University. He finished his undergraduate studies in Austin, Texas. He then attended medical school in Galveston, Texas where he graduated in 1958. He practiced general medicine in Fabiens, Texas. He then returned to Austin to complete a residency in psychiatry. George married Mary Ann Cochran in 1956 and they had four children together, Mark, Cindi, Russell and David. They were divorced in 1981. Mary Ann preceded George in death on June 29, 2004. George practiced psychiatry for four years in Lubbock, Texas. He brought the family to Topeka, Kansas in 1967 and joined the Menninger Foundation as a staff psychiatrist. He was the first Chairman of the Kansas Impaired Physician Program and he helped establish the Alcohol and Drug Addiction program at the Menninger Foundation. George left the Menninger Foundation in 1980 and began work at the Colmery ONeil Veterans Administration as a Building Chief Psychiatrist until his retirement in September of 1995. In addition he worked part-time as a psychiatrist for the Kansas Department of Corrections for many years. George is survived by his companion of 14 years, Elaine Wilcox. Children: Mark Penn and wife Kimberly; Cindi Buck and husband Mark; Russell Penn and wife Kelly; David Penn; daughter-in-law Joanna Penn. His grandchildren: Cindis children Rachel and Elliot; Mark and Joannas children Natalie and Olivia, and Marks step-sons with wife Kimberly, Alex and Brian Sonnich. His siblings: sister Mary Key and husband Jesse; sister Sue Barnes; cousin Dick Ince; brother Jack Penn preceded him in death. In his retirement George became an avid golfer and bridge player. He consumed reading materials (books, newspapers, magazines), whatever he could get his hands on. He took pleasure in learning and spending time on his computer. He and Elaine enjoyed traveling together including an Alaskan cruise and trips to Hawaii, Europe and Ireland. Papa Penn was an extremely kind hearted and generous man. He will be dearly missed by everyone whose life he has touched. A memorial service is planned at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, February 16 at Penwell Gabel Midtown Chapel, Topeka Kansas. There will also be a memorial service near his home in Nellysford, Virginia, details pending. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following organizations in his memory: Almost Home Pet Adoption Center, Humane Society/SPCA of Nelson County, 29 Stagebridge Road, Lovingston, VA 22949 (434) 263-7722. The Wintergreen Nature Foundation, Route 1, Box 770, Roseland, VA 22967. www.twnf.org The Nelson County Community Fund Of the Charlottesville Area Community Fund, P.O. Box 253, Nellysford, VA 22958. (540) 213-2150. www.communityfoundationcbr.org