Funeral services for Larry J. Penix, age 74 of Ruston, LA will be held at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, October 20, 2021, at Owens Memorial Chapel in Ruston, LA with Rev. Doug De Graffenried officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Mariah Cemetery in Arcadia, LA under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA.
Larry J. Penix, son of Patrick Cleveland and Rita Merle Bridges Penix, was born on September 1, 1947, in Minden, LA, and passed away Saturday, October 16, 2021, in Ruston, LA. He was a 1965 graduate of Minden High School and a 1970 graduate of Northwestern Louisiana State University where he earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration and Accounting. Larry worked in accounting for five years then spent the next thirty-nine years in Nursing Home Administration, starting out at Meadowview in Minden, LA. Larry was the Interim Vice President of the Chicago division and Director of Operations of the Salem, Oregon division with National Heritage. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Ruston. Larry was an animal lover and he loved dogs and horses; especially Secretariat. He loved his Yorkie, Newton, and his Lhasa Apso, Phoebe. Newton went to heaven with Larry. He passed away October 16, 2021, also.
Larry loved sports; especially golf, running, and karate, where he was a third-degree Brown Belt achieved through his instructor, Billy Golden. He loved to cheer on LSU. Larry is preceded in death by his parents; Pat and Rita Penix.
Larry is survived by his wife of twenty-four years, Lynda Kay Leoffler Penix who he referred to as “The Love of My Life”; one son, Jason Penix of Chicago, IL; two stepsons: Layne Smith and wife Danielle of Dubach, LA and David Smith and wife Emily of Choudrant, LA; two granddaughters: Landree Smith and Caplan Smith; sister, Patricia and husband, Jim Muska of Sugarland, TX; three nephews: Jim Muska, Jr. and wife Bonnie and children, Jonathan Muska and wife Suzanne and children and Chad Muska all of Houston, TX and a host of friends.
Pallbearers for the service will be Jim Muska, Jr., Jonathan Muska, Ron Deal, Gary Green, Jimmy Turner, and Mike Jackson. A special thanks to Ruston Nursing and Rehab (Longleaf) for the excellent care given to Larry. He was the administrator at Longleaf for several years and was remembered fondly by the staff. Also, a very special thanks to Dee Mason, who was such an angel to Larry and Lynda during this time.
Visitation was from 1:00-2:00 PM, Wednesday, October 20, 2021, at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Ruston, LA. To leave an online memorial message for the family, please visit www.owensmemorialfuneralhome.com.