Obituaries 27 July 2026

Leland Johnson Pennington

Leland Johnson Pennington, 69, of Hillsboro, passed away July 23, 2026 at Bethesda North Hospital. 

He was born June 7, 1957 at Hillsboro Hospital, to Charles and Pauline Pennington. 

Leland grew up mostly in Hillsboro, except for a few middle school years spent in Loveland. Leland had a lifelong love of all things related to Hillsboro and particularly the Highland County Historical Society, where he was a lifetime member and former trustee.

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He also published the Highland County Magazine, a monthly publication that focused on his beloved Highland County, past and present. Leland had a God-given ability to make people laugh, and could seemingly find humor in any situation. He could entertain with magic, balloon sculpture or just his uncanny wit. 

In recent years, he delighted many audiences with his amazing ability to bend spoons with his mind. Leland worked professionally as Pennington the Wizard and Ando the Clown, primarily in Highland County and the southwest Ohio area. He also worked at Highland County Water, retiring in 2022 after 37 years as a water plant operator and lab technician. He was proud of the many celebrities he had met, including Red Skelton, Billy Graham and David Copperfield. Leland enjoyed art, photography, gardening and reading, and vegan, no-oil cooking. Honors and accomplishments include membership in Hollywood's prestigious Magic Castle; Order of Merlin Excalibur for 50 years of continuous membership in the International Brotherhood of Magicians; the honor of being named a Kentucky Colonel; and a 2nd-degree black belt in Bushido karate. 

He was also a proud member of the Hillsboro High School class of 1976. Leland was a past president of the local Jaycees and served as chairman of their haunted house for many years. As part of a Jaycees project, Leland designed the Hillsboro city flag. In addition to membership in the International Brotherhood of Magicians, he was a life member of the Society of American Magicians (50+ years), and enjoyed membership in their local affiliates Ring 71 and Assembly 11 in Cincinnati. 

He is survived by his wife Ellen, whom he married at the Highland County Historical Society on Sept. 4, 1988. He is further survived by nieces and nephews, Clayton Pennington of Columbus, Curtis Roush and Julia Roush of Clarksville, Tenn., Elizabeth (Lee) Littler of Goshen and Adam Perry of Lynchburg; and by innumerable friends and relatives. 

In addition to his parents, a sister, Lori Freeman, preceded him in death. 

Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1 at the Turner Funeral Home in Hillsboro, Richard Osterlind officiating. Visitation will precede the service from noon-2 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Highland County Historical Society. 

Turner & Son Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family. For more, visit www.turnerfuneralhomes.cc.

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