Find A Grave Memorial

Ray Lee Penland Jr., who is with the marines, has just finished boot camp at Camp Pennington, Calif. He graduated from Calhoun High this past June.

Palacios Beacon, September 14, 1967
 

Palacios Marine Killed in War
Matagorda County's 10th Victim
 

A  former Palacios resident, Marine Corps PFC Ray Lee Penland, Jr., 19, was killed in action May 26 in South Vietnam, the Marine Corps office in Galveston reported today.

Penland is the son of Mrs. Clarence Koontz of Harvey, La., and Ray Lee Penland of Houston. Funeral services are pending at Taylor Bros. Funeral Home in Bay City.

PFC Penland attended school in Palacios and graduated from high school at Port Lavaca.

According to the Marine Corps, Penland was killed by rifle fire during a fire fight with the enemy near Quang Tri, which is located north of Hue.

He was an infantry Marine, according to reports. Penland's death was the 10th Matagorda County Vietnam war death.

No other information was available today.

The Daily Tribune, Tuesday, June 4, 1968
 

Penland Rites Set Saturday
 

Funeral services for Marine PFC Ray Lee Penland Jr. of Palacios are set for 2 p.m. Saturday at the Trinity Baptist Church in Palacios. Burial will be in the Hawley Cemetery.

Penland, 19, was killed near Quang Tri, South Vietnam, on May 28 during hostile action.

The Rev. J. R. Wgin and the Rev. Willie Bearfield will officiate at the funeral services.

PFC Penland is survived by his mother, Mrs. Clarence Koontz of Harvey, La.; his father, Ray Lee Penland Sr. of Houston; five sisters, Linda Sue Penland, Laura Jean Penland, Barbara Ann Penland and Vicki Lynn Koontz, all of Harvey, La., and one brother, Henry J. Penland of Harvey, La.

Taylor Bros. Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

The Daily Tribune, Friday, June 14, 1968
 

Card of Thanks

We wish to express our heartfelt appreciation to everyone who aided us at the time of our great sorrow and loss of our beloved grandson, Ray Lee Penland, Jr. We are grateful to all relatives, neighbors and friends for their expressions of sympathy, words of consolation, flower offerings and memorials. We especially thank the ladies of Palacios and Collegeport for the food. These acts of kindness will always be treasured and remembered in our hearts.

Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Penland and family

Palacios Beacon, July 11, 1968
 

 

Willa D. Koontz Willa D. Koontz, 88, of Victoria passed away on Sunday, February 25, 2018. She was born November 1, 1929 in Anadarko, OK to Otto Rogers and Sylvia Harris Haskell. She is survived by her son, Henry Penland of Houston; daughters, Linda Dasch of Luling, LA, Laura Penland of Luling, LA, Barbi Heilker of Austin and Vicky Nichols of Houston; sister, Betty Koontz of Palacios; eighteen grandchildren and twenty-five great grandchildren. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Koontz was preceded in death by husband, Clarence Koontz; a daughter, Lenora Brossette and a son, Ray L. Penland, Jr. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 2, 2018 from 1-2 PM at Rosewood Funeral Chapel with the funeral service to begin at 2 PM. The graveside service will be held at 3:30 PM at the Hawley Cemetery in Blessing, TX. Pallbearers will be Stephanie Britt, John Joyce, Robert Marek, Robert Penland, Joshua Penland and Travis Penland. Honorary Pallbearers will be Mikey Joyce, Wade Ryan, Jeremy Dasch and Seth Brossette. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com. Family: Father, Otto Rogers; Mother, Sylvia Harris Haskell; Husband, Clarence Koontz; Son, Henry Penland; Daughters, Linda Dasch, Laura Penland, Barbi Heilker, Vicky Nichols; Sister, Betty Koontz; Daughter, Lenora Brossette; Son, Ray L. Penland Jr., Son Willa leaves eighteen grandchildren, twenty-five great-grandchildren, extended family members and friends to cherish her memory. Pallbearers, Stephanie Britt, Wade Ryan, Robert Marek, Robert Penland, Joshua Penland, Travis Penland. Honorary pallbearers, Mickey Joyce, Wade Ryan, Jeremy Dasch and Seth Brossette.

PENLAND

Funeral services for Ray Lee Penland, 65, of Collegeport were scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at Taylor Brothers Funeral Home, Bay City, with the Rev. Jim Hardaway officiating.

Interment will follow at Hawley Cemetery, Blessing.

Mr. Penland was born Jan. 9, 1925, in Keechi, Texas to A. A. and Vannie Huffhines Penland and died Jan. 25, 1990, at Matagorda General Hospital.

He was a lifelong resident of the Collegeport and Palacios area.

Survivors include: four daughters, Linda Dasch of New Orleans, Lenora Brossette of Richmond, Laura Fralick of Houston and Barbie Heilker of Austin; a son, Henry Penland of Sugar Land; two sisters, Sue Hawthorne of Pangune, Ark., and Nell Mize of Cuero; five brothers, Johnny Penland of Palacios, Ralph Penland of Florida, Eugene Penland of California, James Penland of Austin and Glenn Penland of Cedar Lane; and 12 grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Taylor Brothers Funeral Home.

The Daily Tribune, January 26?, 1990

Picture of Mr. Penland courtesy of Gene Penland.
 

Vietnam Veterans Memorial rubbing courtesy of Anette Uher.