Robert Pena

Robert Pena, 93, of College Place died at home March 16, 2012. Mr. Pena was born Dec. 17, 1918, in Brownsville, Texas, to Maria Tamayo de Leon and Adolfo Reno Pena.

He attended school in Brownsville. On Aug. 30, 1945,
he married childhood schoolmate and neighbor, Margaret Shanahan Pena, in Brownsville. A World War II veteran, he enlisted in 1942, served in the Army in North Africa, Italy and France in the
medical corps. He was honorably discharged in 1945 as a master sergeant. The Penas settled in their family home in College Place in 1949. Mr. Pena worked as a bookkeeper for the Walla Walla Valley Railroad, as a postal clerk at the College Place Post Office, and as an interpreter and translator at the Department of Social and Health Services.

Mr. Pena was a member and active in the College Place Presbyterian Church and was an ordained elder
for many years. He taught many adult Bible classes during his active years at the church. He volunteered 2,035 hours at the Walla Walla Veteran’s Hospital. He
enjoyed volunteering, gardening, reading and studying the Bible. He enjoyed visiting the Oregon coast with his family and traveling to Spain with his daughter, Peggy. He was a devoted husband and loving father.

Survivors include three daughter and sons-in-law, Peggy Wright and James Schieve of Red Bluff, Calif., Patricia and Jerry Bafus and Bertie and Terry Van Dyke, all of Walla Walla; eight grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; five sisters; three brothers; numerous
nephews and nieces.

Viewing will be Wednesday, March 21, 2012, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Herring Groseclose Funeral Home. A graveside service will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 22,
2012, for all friends and family at Blue Mountain Memorial Gardens, 300 S.E. Myra Road, College Place. Following the graveside service a memorial service for all friends and family will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, March 22, 2012, at the College Place Presbyterian
Church with Skip Pritchard officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the College Place Presbyterian Church through Herring Groseclose Funeral
Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla WA 99362.