Lt. (Ret.) Raymond C. Penland

Lieutenant Raymond C. Penland, a native of Opelika, Alabama, passed away on Saturday, July 19, 2025, of pulmonary fibrosis. He was born April 17, 1948, the son of the late Sara Penland and Sergeant First Class Raymond D. Penland. He graduated from Albany High School, Albany, GA, in 1966 and then attended Marion Military School. Ray graduated from Troy State University in 1974 with a degree in Music Education and in 1975 with a Masters of Education. After college, he taught middle school chorus in Crestview, FL and guitar at Opelika High School. He also attended Southwest Guitar School in San Antonio, TX where he studied with Jackie King. During college and his teaching career, he played in numerous rock bands, touring throughout the southeast.

He joined the Navy as a musician in 1984 and attended the Navy School of Music, Navy Base Little Creek, Norfolk, VA where he accelerated through the Basic Course. As an enlisted musician, he served in Navy Band New Orleans, SIXTH Fleet Band in Naples, Italy, SEVENTH Fleet Band in Yokosuka, Japan, ATLANTIC Fleet Band in Norfolk, VA, and the PACIFIC Fleet Band in Honolulu, HI where he was selected for promotion to Bandmaster and commissioned an Ensign. After commissioning, he served as Director, Navy Band Fleet Support Unit and Training Support Officer at the Navy School of Music and completed his 24 years of service as Director, Navy Band Northeast in Newport, RI. During his military career, LT Penland participated in the first port visit since World War II to Sevastopol, USSR in 1989; a West Africa Training Cruise (WATC) in 1994 with concerts in The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe, Namibia; UNITAS XXXV with concerts in Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, and Panama; and CARAT 97 with concerts in Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand. During his naval career, he visited and performed in over 60 countries. His military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with two gold stars, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation with one bronze star, Meritorious Unit Commendation with three bronze stars, Good Conduct Medal with four bronze stars, National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with two bronze stars, Navy/Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with two bronze stars, and Expert Pistol Shot Medal.

After retirement, Ray was active in the Tidewater Council of the Boy Scouts serving as a Cub Scout Den Leader, Boy Scout Assistant Scoutmaster, Trainer, Unit Commissioner, and Assistant District Commissioner. He also served on the Virginia Beach City Public Schools Community Advisory Committee for Gifted Education, and was a board member of the Southeast Virginia Dressage Association.

Lieutenant Penland is survived by his wife, Candy (Neumann) Penland, Chief Yeoman, USN (Ret.) of Virginia Beach, Virginia; his son, Raymond Dempsey Penland II of Harrisonburg, Virginia; his brother, Stephen P. Penland of Opelika; stepsons Geoffrey B. Struble of Virginia Beach, Robert J. Rothrock (Courtney Lloyd) of Richmond, Virginia; step-grandson Jeremy Lloyd Rothrock; brother-in-law DuWayne R. Neumann of Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, and sister-in-law Renee F. Brethouwer of Oostburg, Wisconsin.

Visitation will be on Friday, August 1, 2025 at 10:00 a.m., with service at noon, and reception to follow at Altmeyer Funeral Home, 5033 Rouse Drive, Virginia Beach. Funeral services with full military honors, visitation, and reception, will be on Monday, August 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home, 1500 Frederick Road, Opelika, with burial to follow at Garden Hills Cemetery.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate care given by Dawn, Callie, Stacey, and Rachel of Westminster Canterbury at Home Hospice, Virginia Beach, and Suzanne and Mel, of First Light Home Care, Virginia Beach, and the doctors, nurses, and health care professionals at Sentara Princess Anne Hospital, Virginia Beach, and Sentara Leigh Hospital, Norfolk, VA.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a charitable donation in Ray’s name to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, National League of POW/MIA Families, Southeast Virginia Dressage Association (SVDA), Boy Scouts of America, or a charity of your choice.

Altmeyer Funeral Homes Southside Chapel, 5033 Rouse Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 is honored to serve the family. To express condolences visit www.altmeyerfh.com.