Penny Herring Flood

Penny Herring Flood, 80, of Waco died peacefully on Friday, January 16, 2026, in the arms of family and surrounded by loving caregivers. Visitation for family and friends will be Friday, January 30, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, 6101 Bosque Blvd. in Waco. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the Armstrong Browning Library in the Foyer of Mediation, 710 Speight Avenue on the Baylor University Campus. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery under the direction of Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Jack Flood, Reece Flood, Jack Rizzo, Christopher Rue, Joseph Flood IV, Angelo Rizzo, Jack Rizzo II, Adam Flood, and Isaac Flood.

Penny Elizabeth Herring was born in Waco, Texas, on February 6, 1945, to the late Dr. Jack W. Herring and Daphne Norred Herring of Waco. She spent her early years in Arizona, and in 1959, Penny’s family moved back home to Waco, where she graduated as valedictorian from Waco High School. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, in 1967, followed by a Master’s degree in Political Science, both from Baylor University.

After completing her Fulbright Scholarship studies in Berlin, Germany, Penny married the love of her life, Joseph Hugh Flood Jr. of Waco on June 1, 1968. She and Joe met the year prior while she was student teaching at Waco High School, and he was serving as a high school football coach and teacher. The two were married in the Miller Chapel in the Tidwell Bible Building on Baylor’s Campus. The Herring/Flood wedding was the first wedding in Waco to be co-officiated by a Baptist Minister and Catholic Priest. Devotion to faith and its joyful celebration remained central to Penny and Joe’s marriage of more than 57 years.

In 1979, Joe and Penny experienced the loss of their oldest son, Joseph Hugh Flood III, to a long battle with leukemia at the age of nine. Through their shared beliefs and love, Joe and Penny remained devoted to creating a world of hope, joy, and opportunities for their young family. Penny dedicated the remainder of her life to her husband, her four living children and her grandchildren.

The highlight of Penny’s career was her time at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center where she served as the founding Director of Education and Training. There she was able to give back to the healthcare community every day while making lifelong friendships she treasured dearly.

In 2006, Penny became “Grandmother” for the first time and spent the rest of her days doting on and planning future visits with her six beloved grandchildren.

Penny was preceded in death by her son, Joseph Hugh Flood III; parents, Dr. Jack W. and Daphne Herring; brother, Paul William Herring; and nephew, Michael Joseph Flood.

Survivors include her husband, Joe Flood, of Waco; daughter, Dr. Kellie Flood of Birmingham, Alabama; son, Jack Flood and wife, Julia, of Frisco; daughter, Elizabeth Flood Rizzo and husband, Jack, of Grand Prairie; and son, Reece Flood and wife, Erin, of Hewitt; grandchildren, Genevieve Rizzo, Joseph Flood IV, Angelo Rizzo, Jack Rizzo II, Adam Flood and Isaac Flood; nieces, Lisa Johnson, Linda Johnson, Gina Sundet, Kathleen Green, Julie Avila, and Jennifer Harvey; nephews, Matthew Foley, Kyle Herring, John Herring and Lance Herring; sisters-in-law, Lillian Flood, Mary Ellen Foley and Carolyn Herring and many great-nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to be made to Three Oaks Hospice in Dallas (www.threeoakshospice.com/foundation/), or to our 9th annual ‘Flood Family & Friends Team’ in this year’s Waco Walk to End Alzheimer’s (act.alz.org/goto/FloodFamilyAndFriends). We will be dedicating our participation in this year’s event to the loving memory of Penny and all who struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Penny’s family invites you to leave a message or memory online at her “Memorial Guestbook” at www.WHBfamily.com.