Mary Jenet went peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 14, 2026, in Sun City, Arizona, with Marilyn by her side and Jim on speakerphone. Her family was hopeful she was recovering from a medical issue in February that caused paralysis in both arms, but that was not God’s plan. She remained active until the end and enjoyed every one of her 94 years. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.

She will be deeply missed by the many whose lives she touched, but by no one more than her children Kathryn, Sharon, Susan, Marilyn, and Jim.

Mary Jenet met the love of her life, Walter Jay (Walt) Penrod, at the Indiana State Fair in 1949. They married on November 10, 1950, while both were students at Purdue University. While Walt served in the Army at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, during the Korean War, Mary Jenet joined him there and worked as an office assistant for the Major General. Their first child, Kathryn, was born at Ft. Leonard Wood. After Walt’s honorable discharge, they returned to North Manchester, Indiana, to continue their life together, which soon led to teaching and farming.

From her earliest years, Mary Jenet was a dedicated 4-H member whose accomplishments and leadership were remarkable. She won numerous awards, including first place in Indiana in food preparation and the County Leadership Award in 1947. In 1950 she received the National Citizenship Award, which took her to the White House to meet President Harry S. Truman. She was also named Indiana State Champion in Food Preparation Achievement and also received the prestigious Thomas E. Wilson Citizenship Award. Even in her youth, she showed a deep caring for others—thinking about how to help her community, country, and world. She lived the 4-H Pledge every day: “I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living—for my club, my community, my country, and my world.” These experiences shaped a lifetime devoted to education, service, and helping others help themselves. She fulfilled that calling as a teacher, mother, friend, church member, and a member of many clubs—never seeking credit, always focused on making the world a better place.

While raising children, teaching, and helping on the family farm, Mary Jenet completed her undergraduate degree at Manchester College when her youngest daughter Marilyn was still less than a year old. She and Walt then earned master’s degrees from Ball State University. She taught multiple subjects and served as Dean of Women Students at Northfield High School in Wabash, Indiana. After moving to Carmel, Indiana, she taught junior high science and home economics while earning her PhD in Home Economics Teacher Education from Purdue University. She then went on to work for the Indiana Department of Education, serving as Executive Officer of the Capital Region Vocational Education and Training Consortium, from which she retired. She received many awards for her contributions and was known for her deep desire to help people learn, grow, and become their best selves.

The Elder family farm near Dana, Indiana dates back to 1837, when it was purchased from President Martin Van Buren—one of the few family farms in the same family for nearly 200 years. Ernie Pyle, the famous war correspondent, was born in a house on that farm. Mary Jenet assisted her mother in donating the house to the State of Indiana, which is now the Ernie Pyle World War II Museum. As a child, Mary Jenet received dolls from Ernie Pyle during his travels, which broadened her love for travel and for our country.

Mary Jenet never lost her passion for farming, which started as a child. Even while living in Carmel, she and Walt returned to the farm in North Manchester nearly every weekend with family to work it together. She took special pride in planting the straightest rows and worked alongside her husband in all aspects of farm life. As retirees, they spent summers on their farm in North Manchester, Indiana and their winters in Sun City, Arizona. They were active in their churches and enjoyed crafts such as leatherwork, ceramics, clay, stained glass, and silversmithing, as well as the computer club and the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Her love of travel and seeing the world began at age three when she rode by car with her family to Florida to visit her grandparents. It continued to take her to all 50 states, most provinces of Canada, and Mexico. Her furthest trip was to Hong Kong in 2000 to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The Penrod family farm in North Manchester was always her “home”, Sun City was her winter home, and yet she had the gift of making every place she lived feel like home.

Mary Jenet cherished her family above all else. She and Walt traced her family heritage back to the Mayflower as a descendant of John and Priscilla Alden. Together, they also created a 120-page Penrod Family Tree book that went back to 1725 and John Penrod Sr.

She and Walt shared a deep desire to raise children who were independent, successful, and patriotic, giving them “roots and wings, not loot and things.” She treasured every opportunity to be with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. After Walt’s passing in 2022, she maintained her independence while spending meaningful time visiting each of her five children’s families around the country.

She is survived by her five children: Kathryn Marie Penrod of Brookings, South Dakota; Sharon Louise Johnson (Bob) of Plain City, Ohio; Susan Dianne O’Rourke (Dennis) of Spartanburg, South Carolina; Marilyn Penrod Murphy (Kurt) of Sun City, Arizona; and Walter James “Jim” Penrod (Laura) of McLeansville, North Carolina. She is also survived by her sister, Kassy Kaiser of San Diego, 12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Mary Jenet was preceded in death by her husband of more than 71 years, Walter Jay Penrod; her parents, James Pinson Elder and Dorothy Ruth Walters Elder; her sister, Bette Louise Elder; and her son-in-law, Otis Freeman Curtis IV (Kathryn).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your local 4-H club, local FFA chapter, or to a charity supporting education or youth development.