Wilbur Dean Penick

Wilbur Dean Penick, 87, beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, passed away on Thursday morning, February 26, 2014 at Midland Memorial Hospital in Midland, Texas. Dean, as he was known to family and friends, was born to Clara and Cecil Penick on December 15, 1926 in Okemah, Oklahoma. Dean remembered getting his first bicycle at the age of 10 in order to deliver the Oklahoma City newspaper to the citizens of Okemah. At age 18, he met 17 year old Frances Blackwell on the streets of Okemah and decided soon thereafter to ask her to marry him. After "going to country dances with kerosene lamps", and riding around in Dean's 1932 touring Chevy with yellow wheels, they were married on February 23, 1945, immediately before Dean was drafted into the Army and shipped out to the Philippines, and later to Tokyo, Japan, as one of the last U.S. occupational forces at the end of World War II. While in Japan, Dean was a member of the Military Police and drove a medical truck. Upon his return, Dean and his brother Donnie started "Penick Brothers Casing Pulling" in Monahans, Texas. On May 17, 1956, Dean and Frances welcomed their beloved son, Jerry Dean. After moving to Midland in 1958, Dean owned and operated "Penick Casing Pulling" successfully for the next 50 years, until his retirement. In his free time, Dean enjoyed a daily trip to Cracker Barrel Restaurant, the Hoagy Carmichael song, "Old Buttermilk Skies", a good run at the slot machines and travelling to Reno every year to visit family and friends. Dean was also a proud member of the Midland Masonic Lodge, where he was a 32nd degree Mason. Dean will be missed so much by his family and friends, but we are grateful to have our "PawPaw" as long as we did. He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Frances Penick, as well as his parents and brothers Norman, Russell and Donald Lee. Dean is survived by his son, Jerry Penick and his wife Carla. He is also survived by granddaughters Lindy (Penick) Rafeek and husband Asif of Midland, and Jesslyn Penick, also of Midland, as well as grandsons Cameron Penick and wife Kim of Midland, and Kellen Penick of Lubbock. Dean was also a very loving and proud great-grandfather to Ryann Rafeek and Conner Penick. He is also survived by one brother, Don Penick of Onalaska, Washington and two sisters, Nancy Rasnick of Midland and Luann Lytton of San Leandro, California. A funeral service will be at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, February 28, 2014 at Ellis Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park. Services are entrusted with Ellis Funeral Home. Online condolence may be offered at www.ellisfunerals.com.