Mike Peninger

David Michael “Mike the Merita Bread Man” Peninger, 75, of Salisbury passed away Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at Grand Strand Regional Hospital in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Born in Salisbury on June 18, 1944, he was the son of the late William H. Peninger and Ruth Morris Peninger.

Mike was a 1962 graduate of Boyden High School. He was a member of Haven Lutheran Church, where he served on the church council. He served as Head Usher (was the “Bucket Man” to the children), helped Aggie with decorating the church at Easter and Christmas, helped with preparing funeral meals and the men’s group in preparing Easter Morning Breakfast. He loved the Lord, his church, and its members dearly.

Mike was a member of the Andrew Jackson Lodge #576. He loved the beach, beach music, shagging, camping, and riding his motorcycle. He loved the UNC Tarheels, Salisbury Hornets, Rowan American Legion Baseball, Dallas Cowboys, Nascar, attending the modified races at Bowman Gray Stadium for over 40 years, and loved driving his 1961 Chevrolet Impala and his 1969 Black Chevy Truck, which were his pride and joy. He also enjoyed meeting classmates once a month for lunch.

Mike retired from American Bakeries where he was a Merita Bread Route Salesman for 37 ½ years. He always wanted to leave his customers with a smile and a joke or two. He never met a stranger, and always said a stranger is a friend you haven’t met yet. He lived and loved life to the fullest. His love and compassion for others was enormous and he always helped others when he could. He surely will be missed by everyone.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Milton “Dan” Peninger.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 55 years and love of his life, Aggie C. Peninger, whom he married on January 19, 1964; sons, Davy, Jr. and Chad (Dawn) Peninger; siblings, Jan (Paul) Stevens, Claudette (Rick) Hopkins, Keith (Connie) Peninger; sister-in-law, Wanda Peninger; grandchildren, Nicolas and Nicole Wale (Troy Stephens) and his granddogs, Chloe, Ollie and Cam. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

Visitation: 1:00-3:00 PM Saturday, October 5, 2019 at Haven Lutheran Church, 207 W. Harrison St, Salisbury, NC 28144.

Service: 3:00 PM Saturday, October 5, 2019 at Haven Lutheran Church with the Rev. Edward Harper officiating.

The family would like to thank Dr. Chetan Amin and Staff; the doctors and nurses at Grand Strand Regional Hospital in Myrtle Beach; the ICU South and PCU South Units; and the Salisbury Fire Department who he referred to as “his boys”.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Haven Lutheran Church, 207 W. Harrison St, Salisbury, NC 28144.

Lyerly Funeral Home is serving the Peninger family. Online condolences may be made at www.lyerlyfuneralhome.com.

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