Vance E. Penton Jr.

Vance E. Penton Jr. passed away on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Moscow, Idaho, his home since 1954. Vance was born on December 4, 1936, in Caldwell Idaho, eldest of two boys born to Vance Edwin Penton Sr. and Ruby Virginia (Powers) Penton. When Vance was 17, his father tragically passed away, leaving Ruby to finish raising the boys on her own.

Vance Sr. worked as an electrical linesman on power poles and his job required him to move around a lot, so Vance Jr. and his brother lived in several different towns growing up. By the time his father passed away, they had built a house in Payette, Idaho. Vance learned a lot about construction, plumbing, electrical, and other contractor work from helping his father build their house.

In the fall of 1954, at the age of 17, Vance enrolled at the University of Idaho and obtained his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1960. Then, in 1965, he earned his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering. In the summers he would work for his uncle in Parma, Idaho as a beekeeper.

In 1963 he met his future wife, Lola, who lived across the street, while going to college. They married June 21, 1964. They had three sons, Scott, Kirk, and Eric.

From 1960 to 1979, Vance worked at the U of I. First as an instructor, then research technologist, assistant professor, and finally associate professor. He was also employed as a hydrologic engineer (instrumentation design) for the Agriculture Research Service in Boise, Idaho in 1964 and 1970.

During his tenure at the U of I, he taught courses primarily in manufacturing processes and machine design. His duties included managing shop technicians and training other instructors in the proper use of new equipment. He was also involved in research, design, and testing of various instrument systems including remote measurement of snow packs, rain simulation, and a system for freezing a salmon red in a river so it could be removed for study in a laboratory.

In 1979 Vance opened his own business, Penton Machine Company, in Moscow, Idaho. He was primarily involved in general management of the company and determining the processes to be used in manufacturing parts and assemblies used in lumber grading equipment designed and sold by another company worldwide. There was a lot of special machinery designed and built for other small companies as well. Vance retired and sold the company in 2016.

Vance has been a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) since 1960, and the chairperson of the Inland Empire Section from 1974-1975. He has been a member of the Society of Mechanical Engineers (SME) Chapter 248 since 1992. He received “Engineer of the Year” award from SME in 2001.

Vance had several hobbies which include large model airplanes he would fly, Lionel train cars and engines he collected and set up on track layouts. Another enjoyable hobby was pistol shooting. He absolutely loved to camp and fish and tried to get out at least 3-5 times a summer. It was always a fun time for the whole family, sometimes bringing grandparents as well. Hiking up trails and finding fishing holes, bringing back the day’s catch and frying it up in the evening for dinner. Roasting marshmallows over the campfire at night, and retiring to the camper table for some card games before bed. Later in life, Vance enjoyed playing pinochle weekly with the senior pinochle group.

He was a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, and a member of the Idaho State Rifle & Pistol Association, winning several medals as a “Sharp Shooter”.

His love of aeronautics drove him to study to get his pilot’s license. He spent several years from 1962 – 1968 learning to fly and logging flight time, stopping so he could raise his sons.

Vance is survived by his wife Lola Penton, son Scott (Deana) Penton, son Eric Penton, grandson Maverick Penton, granddaughter Cherysh Penton, step granddaughter Justine (Dillon) Reckard, step granddaughter Melaina (Spencer) Black, four step great grandchildren (Arianna, Stewart, Chevelle, and Lotus), brother Eugene Storm Penton of Boise, nieces Felicia, Denise, and Tanya, and several great nieces and nephews. Vance was preceded in death by his parents Vance Sr. and Ruby Penton, and his son Kirk Penton.

There will be a viewing at Short’s Funeral Chapel in Moscow from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 16. A graveside service will be held Friday, April 17, at 1:00 p.m. at the Moscow Cemetery. A meal and time for further celebration will follow immediately at the Penton residence.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Moscow Volunteer Fire Department.