Penick M.D., George Dial

George Dial Penick M.D., 88, of Penick Village, Southern Pines, N.C., formerly of Iowa City, died Jan. 4, 2011, in Southern Pines.

The son of the Rt. Rev. Edwin Anderson Penick, Bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina, and Caroline (Dial) Penick, he was born in Columbia, S.C., on Sept. 4, 1922. The second of three boys, he grew up in Charlotte and Raleigh, graduating from Broughton High School and Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg. He received his B. S. degree from the University of North Carolina, where he was Phi Beta Kappa. He attended the UNC School of Medicine and obtained his M.D. from Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Penick spent almost his entire professional life as a research pathologist. After medical school and an internship at Presbyterian Hospital in Chicago, he was a captain in the U.S. Army and returned to the University of North Carolina to teach and do research in hemorrhage and thrombosis in the UNC Department of Pathology.

In 1970, he became chair of Pathology at the University of Iowa Medical School, where he worked until his retirement. The George D. Penick Award for Excellence in Education was established by the department to recognize the house staff member who displays the highest level of achievement in educating medical students, clinical colleagues, paramedical personnel and each other.

On Feb. 8, 1947, he married Marguerite (Murchison) Worth of Raleigh, N.C., daughter of Hal and Marguerite Worth. They had five children together, raising their family in Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and Iowa City. In retirement they lived in Wilmington, N.C., and Southern Pines.

In addition to his work in medicine, Dr. Penick was also an active leader in the Episcopal Church. In the early 1950s, he led the creation of the Church of the Holy Family in Chapel Hill, serving as its first senior warden. He was elected numerous times by his diocese to serve as a delegate to the General Convention, and he was on several church boards, including Penick Village and St. Mary's School. He and Marguerite attended and volunteered at a number of churches that were important in their lives, including the Church of the Holy Family, Trinity Episcopal Church in Iowa City, and The Church of the Servant in Wilmington.

He is survived by his children, George Jr. (Carol) Penick, Hal (Kathryn) Penick, David (Karen) Penick and Marguerite (Daniel) Parks; nine grandchildren, Caroline (Bryan) Ruyle, Holladay Penick, Robert Penick, Christian Penick, Michael Penick, Marguerite Parks, Elizabeth Parks, Adele Parks and Danae Parks; two great-grandchildren, John Ruyle and Celia Marguerite Ruyle; and his brother, Charles (Nancy) Penick.

George was predeceased by his parents; his wife, Marguerite; his brother, Edwin; and his son, Anderson Holladay Penick.

A resident of Penick Village in Southern Pines since 2003, George died after several years of a slow but gradual decline in his physical health. He will be remembered at a funeral service at the chapel at St. Mary's School on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh, N.C., on Saturday, Jan. 8, at 1 p.m. There will be a reception following to give his family and friends a time to visit. His ashes will be buried at Oakwood Cemetery. The Rev. Patsy Smith, chaplain at Penick Village, will conduct the service.

The family wants to thank Jeffrey Hutchins, director, and all of the staff and residents of Penick Village for their generous love and support to both George and Marguerite during their years there.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks contributions be made to the Penick Village Endowment Fund, the Andy Penick Book Fund at the Chapel Hill Public Library, or to a charity of one's choice.