Wanda Lee (Salisbury) Pennington

Wanda Lee Salisbury Pennington of Clay, formerly of Hurricane, went to her heavenly home on February 21, 2025, after a long illness. She was born on March 19, 1944, at Staats Hospital in Charleston, WV to the late Arthur Lee Salisbury and the late Mary Ann Canfield Salisbury. 

Wanda graduated Clay County High School in 1962 with a class that remained closely connected throughout the years.  Following graduation, Wanda remained at home working part-time at the Triplett Ridge School Library while she continued to care for her grandmother, Lydia, until the matriarch’s passing in June of 1968.  Wanda then moved to Charleston where she worked in dietary at Charleston General Hospital. She moved on to work at NAPA Warehouse for 30+ years until retirement.  

She was an active member in the Hurricane Republican Women’s Club. Wanda was passionate about the American Red Cross and donated more than 62 units of blood in her lifetime.

She married Philip Nelson Pennington, on July 16, 1983 and shared 32 loving years together. They shared many hobbies and interests including the love of music, gardening, camping and traveling the world through reading. Her greatest passion was keeping her family history and stories alive.  

She was preceded in death by her father, Arthur Salisbury, mother, Mary Canfield Salisbury, husband, Philip N. Pennington, sister, Pauletta Salisbury, brother, Richard Salisbury, stepson Phil Pennington, daughter-in-law, Denise Pennington, and niece-in-law, Melissa “Miss” Salisbury.

Left to cherish her memory are her brothers: Hobert (Reta) Salisbury of Wallback, Cary (Mary) Salisbury of Clay, Stepchildren: Charlie (late Denise) Pennington of New Market, AL, and Ann (David) Cooper of Jacksonville,  FL, Step-grandsons Garrett Pennington, of New Market, AL and Matthew Tabler of Jacksonville,  FL. She also leaves behind nieces and nephews, Angela (TG) Cruikshank, Donald (Betty) Salisbury,  Julie (Rick) Allen, Mark (late Melissa) Salisbury, several great nieces and nephews and a host of beloved cousins and friends.

Special thank you to the staff at Kanawha Place Assisted Living for their gentle care of Wanda and her family. Also, thank you to Hospice for the quick response to provide comfort care so we could have her home. 

Funeral to be held on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Wilson Smith Funeral Home, Clay, WV. Service at 12:00 p.m., with visitation from 10-12. Committal following in the Koch Cemetery on the Salisbury farm. 

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.carlwilsonfuneralhome.com. Wilson Smith Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Pennington family.

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