Penelope ‘Penny’ Ida Whitfield Dixon

Posted on January 20, 2026

Penny, known to so many as a lively personality, a loving, supportive mother, a talented musician, a dedicated educator, and someone with a big heart and helping hand, has left this world for another, which she faithfully knew would be waiting for her. Penelope “Penny” Whitfield Dixon, 79, of Fruitland Park, died at UF Health Leesburg Hospital of a critical illness on Dec. 1, 2025. Penny was born at home at 815 W Bay Street in Perry on May 19, 1946, the fourth child of Richard Lorenzo and Mary Lou (Malone) Whitfield Sr. Her parents were descendants of the early pioneer families that moved into Taylor County during the mid-1800s, and they passed along lessons learned from the hardships that shaped them, as well as an unwavering faith in God and a love for learning. During Penny’s childhood, Perry was her playground and, in those times, she had the freedom to roam. Along with her cousins and friends, she would ride her bike, sun and swim at the city pool and, with enough deposit bottles garnered, stop into Bloodworth’s Drug Store for a Pepsi Cola! Family time was filled with church first, then beach excursions and fishing trips all over Taylor County and beyond. Even with all that fun, she would always make time for her true passion, learning piano and playing music! As a teenager, Penny played the cornet in the Taylor County High School Marching Band and brass ensemble, as well as piano for the school chorus. In her senior year, she won a scholarship to North Florida Junior College for her piano playing. Penny went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in education from Florida State University and a master’s degree from Georgia State University. She married Ken Dixon and moved to Lake County, where she and Ken welcomed sons David and Daniel, and she settled into a teaching career that would span 30 years. As a teacher, she taught a variety of subjects to different ages, and for many years was a special needs teacher. She took great care in nurturing her students and was proud to become lifelong friends with many them. They would find her on Facebook and say, “Mrs. Dixon, Do you remember me?” Reconnecting with them was one of her favorite things. Over time she became proficient in many instruments. As an active member of the First Baptist Church of Leesburg for more than 40 years, she played piano and joined the orchestra, playing treble clef baritone and French horn. Her church family was her second family and had a large presence in her life. Discovering music festivals opened a whole new world to her and she learned to play the hammered dulcimer and the spoons, jumping into a jam session every chance she got. She joined many bands and orchestras over the years, but one of her favorites was playing piano for musicals at The Melon Patch Theatre in Leesburg. Penny loved to travel as often as possible – to Europe, across the USA and down to the Caribbean. She also enjoyed festivals, and ever the entrepreneur, she and her sons would put up a tent and sell shaved ice, cotton candy, lemonade or iced tea. She made friends everywhere she went and loved keeping in touch with classmates, relatives and friends on Facebook. Like her mother and sister before her, she started telling stories of her life and found that people enjoyed them. The stories caught the eye of her hometown newspaper, the Perry NewsHerald/Taco Times, and she began writing an occasional column for them. One of the traits Penny was best known for was her willingness to help others, feeding many who were hungry, offering friendship to many who were lonely and hiring many for her festival booths who needed an opportunity to get on their feet. She lived with a generous heart that never wavered. We will all miss our Lucky Penny. Penny was preceded in death by: her parents; brothers, Benjamin Thomas Whitfield and Richard (Abe) Lorenzo Whitfield Jr.; sister, Alda Frances Whitfield Higdon; and a daughter, Lou Ann Dixon. She is survived by: two sons, David Whitfield Dixon, Old Town, and Daniel Thomas Dixon, Fruitland Park; grandson, Andrew Charles Dixon, Tavares; and many nieces and nephews, as well as her special church family and her Thursday night ladies, who provided warm fellowship. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 31, at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Leesburg. A second service will be held Saturday, May 16, at 11 a.m. at the Carlton Family Cemetery in Perry. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations can be made to First Baptist Church of Leesburg Christian Care Center Ministry, 115 N. 13th St., Leesburg, FL 34748 (phone 352-314-8733).