Obituary of Barbara Penix

Barbara Gardner Penix, being rock solid of her faith in the Lord, has taken leave of her earthly possessions in order to walk with Jesus on December 22, 2019. Barbara Gardner Penix was born in Rome, New York, on July 21, 1936. She was the fourth of six children born to the union of the late Wade Daniel Gardner Sr. and Ella Sue Boyd Gardner. She is preceded in death by her sisters Lena Mae (Fredrick) Watson, Alois (Charles) Jones, and brother-in-law Alphonse Hackett and sister-in-law Joyce Gardner. Barbara is survived by her brother Wade Daniel Gardner Jr., and two sisters Carol Hackett and Jeanette (Wayne) Brown; Children Shelly Susan Gardner, Michael Paul Gardner, Step-Son Walter Bruce, and Timothy Clifton (Lillian) Penix: Grandchildren Tasha Monique (Omar) James, Dana Nichole (Kurt) Leacock, Step grandson Troy Bullock, Ellis Michael Gardner and Hunter Stone-Gardner, Tahlia Penix and Tavin Penix; Great Grandchildren Jeremiah James, Isaiah Walton, Evan Walton, Olivia James, Tristan James, and Ian Leacock; many nieces, nephews, grand and great grand nieces, nephews, her church family, and friends. Barbara was educated in the Rome public schools, where she excelled in sports and graduated from Rome Free Academy in 1954. She began her working career with Bell Telephone Company as a telephone operator in 1954, and in the 1960s, started a 30-year career at Griffiss Air Force Base initially as an Administrative Clerk Typist and retiring as an Equal Employment Opportunity Placement Administrator. Barbara was an active community member and served on many civic boards and organizations in Rome. Barbara accepted the call of Jesus Christ in her life in 1980, and since then has been an active member of the First Tabernacle Pentecostal Christian Center in Rome, New York. There she served in various capacities as a Missionary and Sunday School teacher in their youth and children's ministry. She will be missed by those who loved and knew her ……….. Should friends desire, the family has designated First Tabernacle Pentecostal Christian Center 8086 Turin Road, Rome N.Y. 13440 for memorial contributions. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 3, 2020 at 1:00 P.M. at the First Tabernacle Pentecostal Christian Center, Rome. Family and friends are invited to attend calling hours on Thursday from 4-7 P.M. at Strong-Burns & Sprock Funeral Home 7751 Merrick Road, Rome. Interment will take place in the Spring at Evergreen Cemetery, Stokes.