Heath Lewis Pennington was born on April 9, 1993 at Corydon, Iowa to Rusty & Rebecca (Chamberlain) Pennington. He passed from this life on February 13, 2012 at the age of 18 years, 10 months and 4 days.

At the age of 14, Heath was baptized and became a member of First Presbyterian Church in Lucas of which he had been an active participant since the age of 3. Heath was a 2011 graduate of Chariton High School and enlisted in the United States Army in 2010, leaving for Infantry Basic Training at Fort Benning, Georgia in July 2011. At the time of his death, he was stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, in Company C, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Division.

Heath was preceded in death by grandparents Margaret Pennington & Francis Chamberlain. His grandfather, Lewis Pennington, followed him from this life a day later on February 15, 2012.

Heath is survived by his parents, his sister & best friend Dianna, grandmother Grace Chamberlain, aunts Jeanne(Randy) Gaumer & Donna Glazebrook, uncles Steve(Mary), Bob(Kathy), John(Barbara), Mark(Mary Lou) & Jim(Julie) Chamberlain, Larry & Richard Pennington, extra special cousins, Candra Brooks & Kari Chamberlain, special neighbors Tom & Joyce Duffield, as well as many other cousins, friends & neighbors.

Heath was a bright spot in all the lives he touched, so generous and thoughtful. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, trapping, fishing & camping with his family and friends. Heath & Dianna were inseparable, always each other's best friend. He was enthusiastic about life and was always busy with one project or another. Words cannot express how much he will be missed.

Funeral services were held Monday, February 20 at Fielding's Funeral Home in Chariton with Pastor Linda O'Connell and Pastor Bill Kerns officiating. The graveside service and burial, with full military rites and Taps being played by Heath's friend and classmate, Charlie Hunkele, was at Norwood Cemetery.


The Dash
I read of a man who stood to speak, at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on his tombstone, from the beginning to the end. He noted that first came the date of his birth, and spoke of the following date with tears, but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time that he spent alive on earth. And now only those who love him know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own: the cars…the house…the cash. What matters is how we live and love And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard; Are there things you'd like to change? For you never know how much time is left, that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and real. And always try to understand the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger. And show appreciation more And love the people in our lives like we never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect. And more often wear a smile… Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is read, with your life's actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your dash?