Beatrice "Dee" Delores Penix

Beatrice Delores (Dee) Penix, 86, of Portsmouth passed away peacefully surrounded by family July 4, 2024 at SOMC Hospice. Born June 14, 1938 in Jacksonburg, WV to the late Charles and Flossie Miller, she was the first of two children. Dee attended Glenwood High School. In her earlier years she worked as a waitress and was a mother to four children from her first marriage. Later, she worked for Kroger and would marry Paul Penix Sr. on September 16, 1972. Together they had one son at which time she became a homemaker until 1982 when she and three others co-founded the Community Common newspaper where she served as the managing editor. She was elected as the first female Scioto County Commissioner in 1986. Choosing to only serve one term, she decided to return to being a wife and mother full time. Throughout the years Dee volunteered and served on several community-minded committees and organizations and thoroughly enjoyed her time serving the public, where she met many people who also became some of her most cherished friends. She was an active member of Christ’s Community Church. In her spare time she could often be found working in her flower garden, watching soap operas or her favorite thing to do, being “grandma” to her grandkids. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 25 years, Paul Penix Sr.(1997) and her oldest daughter, Cynthia Wellman in 2013. She is survived by a sister, Maxine (Elbie) Mathis, two sons David Wellman and Paul (Mary) Penix, two daughters, Karen Hill of Portsmouth and Susan (Robert) Isgett of Minford. Five grandchildren, Justin Bastian, Abrienne (Brie) Hill, Morgan Brown, Brook McKnight and Jacob Wellman. Five great-grandchildren with one due later this month. She is also survived by her cat, Korky. It has been said, “Life is the shortest part of eternity”. While those of us left behind grieve your loss, we also find peace, comfort and strength through faith this is only temporary and in time we will be reunited once again. Services will be Monday July 08,2024 at 11am at D.W SWICK FUNERAL HOME in New Boston, burial to follow at Memorial Burial Park. Visitation will be Sunday July 07, 2024 from 5-8pm and one hour prior to services at the funeral home. The family requests in lieu of flowers, a donation to the Paul E Penix Sr. Memorial Scholarship be made to the Scioto Foundation 303 Chillicothe St. Portsmouth, OH (740) 354-4612 or Sciotofoundation.org Online condolences may be sent to DWSwickFuneralHome.com