Penal Houston Robertson, a resident of Bogalusa, peacefully met his eternal reward on Thursday, April 4, 2019, at his home, sweetly surrounded by his family.

Penal was born in Ponchatoula on March 2, 1937, to Walker Houston Robertson and Adney Sibley Robertson. He is the eldest of two sisters and one brother — Minnie Wheat (Glynn), Deanna Bourne (Danny), and Wilkie Robertson. He was always known as a charming, hard-working man, whose witty sense of humor never lacked the ability to bring a smile to anybody’s face.

He married Elgia (Sally) Mae (Wheat) Robertson on Dec. 28, 1956, in Bogalusa, where together they would build a beautiful life and raise three children. Penal worked as an employee at the paper mill in Bogalusa for 44 years where he would eventually retire as a Senior Maintenance Supervisor. Penal was a well-known and well-respected member of his community — not only for his work ethic, but for his moral and spiritual character as well.

Above all else, Penal was a man who loved the Lord with all his heart. He served faithfully in many capacities as a member of the First United Pentecostal Church of Bogalusa for 63 years. He served in many positions including choir director, Sunday school teacher and superintendent, Deacon, and board member. If you asked Penal though, he would tell you the most important position he ever held was simply being a worshiper. He knew that, above all, the Lord would always be the most important thing in his life. That realization was the strong foundation upon which the well-known character of this man was built.

Penal was preceded in death by his parents, Walker and Adney Robertson; and granddaughter, Brandi Nicole Varnado.

His loving memory will continue to be honored and cherished by his wife, Sally. He is also survived by his children Darwin Robertson, Tami Seal, and Dana Whitfield; sons-in-law David Seal and Ronnie Whitfield; and daughter-in-law, Becky Robertson. He will forever be remembered and loved by his six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Visitation was held at First United Pentecostal Church of Bogalusa on Friday, April 5, from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m., and will continue Saturday, April 6, from noon until 3 p.m., with a funeral service following at 3 p.m. on Saturday as well. Interment will follow the funeral service at Hillview Cemetery in Bogalusa.

Condolences and memories may be shared on the Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home website at www.pooleritchiefuneralhome.com.

While there will never be adequate words to sum up the character, strength, and life of this amazing man, we know that Penal is now in full realization of the Scriptures that he loved so dearly … especially in the words of 2 Timothy 4:6-8 … “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”