"Liberty's Pen" died of complications from cancer. He suffered very little, as the disease took him about 3 weeks after his diagnosis. Below is his obituary from the Kentucky Post:

Larry Penick, 63, of Morning View, died Wednesday at his home. He was a retired employee of General Motors and owner of Action Realty and Hi & Dry Storage in Falmouth. He was a sponsor of Pendleton and Harrison counties Relay for Life. A son, Jeff Penick, preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife, Phyllis Penick; sons, Rick Penick of Covington and Tim Penick of Florence; a stepson, Kevin Jett; stepdaughters, Kim Gaunce and Brandy Jett; a sister, Ann Yeager of La Porte, Texas; a brother, Jimmy Penick of Kansas; half-brothers, Dave Hatley and Bobby Hatley, both of Eastgate, Ohio, and Michael Penick of Dallas; half-sisters, Linda Hatley of Galveston, Texas, Gayle Price of Richwood, Brenda Harsted of Falmouth and Jeanna Wilmoth of Huber Heights, Ohio; three grandchildren and four step-grandchildren.

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Peoples Funeral Home, Grants Lick. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell.

I met Larry at a concealed-carry rally in Downtown Cincinnati on August 6, 2000. I had an extra sign, and he was more than glad to use it (see below).We instanly "clicked," and I was surprised to learn that he lived only a mile away from me. Soon afterward, I got him to come aboard Free Republic and share his wisdom. He will be terribly missed.