Obituary of Willie R. (Billings) Penttila

Willie R. (Billings) Penttila, 89, of Peabody, died early Monday morning at the Rosewood Nursing Home in Peabody following a brief illness. She was the devoted wife of the late Arthur Penttila. Born in Newington, Georgia, she was the daughter of the late William and Zilliah (Tucker) Billings. She was raised and educated in Savannah, Georgia and has lived in Peabody for the past 68 years. While living in Georgia, she was the first civilian women airplane mechanic during World War II to work at Hunter Field for the United States Army. She worked on bomber planes and several other aircraft as well. She later moved to Peabody where she worked for Filenes at the North Shore Shopping Center as a sales clerk since its opening day and retired in the mid 1980’s. She also enjoyed quilting and sewing. She is survived by a brother, Adrian Billings of Georgia and by several loving and devoted nieces, nephews and friends. She was the sister of the late Clifford Billings and Bonnie Neville. A visitation will be held on Wednesday morning from 9:00 AM until 10:00 AM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St, Peabody Facility, followed by her Funeral Services at 10:00 AM in the funeral home to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Burial in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody.