Dorothy "Penny" Agnew

Penny Agnew peacefully passed away while surrounded by loved ones in her Hilton Head Island home Monday, July 13, 2026; she was 93.

Born Dorothy Powning on March 18, 1933 to Carolyn and Kimball Powning in Boston, MA, Penny lived a full and spirited life. After attending Windsor Academy, she graduated from Briarcliff Junior College. She worked for the Dean of Admissions at the Harvard School of Law, and later followed her independent and fearless personality, moving alone to San Francisco, knowing no one.

Penny met her lifelong love and future husband, Franklin “Bill” E. Agnew, above the tree-line while on a ski trip with friends in the the Rocky Mountains— details of which were often a source of hilarious dispute in their marriage. They wed the following year. A winter later they moved from Chicago to Pittsburgh, PA, where they raised their three children—Carolyn “Carrie” W. Agnew, Timothy “Tim” S. Agnew and Jennifer S. Agnew Terry.

Penny was a wonderful, loving partner and homemaker, devoting what free time she had to a number of organizations, including Magee Women’s Hospital, The Century Club, Junior League and The Colonial Dames. She was an avid birder, skier, golfer and tennis player and especially enjoyed her many world travels with Bill. Spending quality family time was one of her greatest joys. She shared with her husband and children her love of family summers at “the beach” in southeastern MA—now an ongoing tradition! She also enjoyed family dinners at home, and spring vacations skiing in Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, as she had done when she met Bill.

After they retired to Spring Island, SC in their mid-60’s, Penny advocated for mental and women’s health care. Her other volunteer efforts included educating school children about the wonders of nature with the Spring Island Trust and working with VIM (Volunteers in Medicine) on Hilton Head Island. A true energetic force of nature, she was often described as opinionated, strong-willed, with a vivacious and ready smile. Penny will be remembered for her love of sports, nightly “dressing drink” and playing games with her family and grandchildren—even if she sometimes recreated the rules to suit her own competitive purposes!

Penny is survived by her husband of 64 years, her children Carrie, Tim (Monica), Jennifer (Seth), three Terry grandsons, Sackett, Kohlsaat, Wyatt and granddaughter, Stuart Terry. She is likewise survived by her sister, Anne Mayer (W. Brem), as well as countless nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents, and brother, Maynard “Bunt” W. Powning.

The family gives deep thanks to the wonderful Home Health staff at The Cypress of Hilton Head, and Crescent Hospice Care. They ask that any expression of remembrance be directed to Planned Parenthood of the South Atlantic, the National Institute of Mental Health or the Westport River Watershed Alliance.