Barber and youth leader
Harry W. Pena Sr., a barber and community youth leader, died Tuesday, January 3, 2006, at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in Creve Coeur. He was 82.
Pena was reared in New Bedford, Massachusetts. After serving in the United States Army in Africa during World War II, he moved to St. Louis. He attended barber school at the Old Washington Technical Graduate School. He was an operator and owner of the O.K. Barbershop at 1800 N. Sarah for 40 years.
Pena was a youth organizer in the Page and Finney area of North St. Louis. He help founded the Frontier Skating Club for boys and girls in that area in the 1950s. The club made monthly field trips to the Steinberg Skating Rink in Forest Park.
Pena was an active member of numerous civic and social organizations including the Foxes, the Gaylords and the Royal Vagabonds, Inc. He was a long-time member of All Saints’ Episcopal Church on North Kingshighway.
He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Mae (McLean) Pena, two sons Harry Pena Jr. of Kansas City, MO, and John Pena of Detroit, MI, seven grandchildren, one brother and two sisters.
Pena donated his body to Saint Louis University School of Medicine. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association of Missouri, 1118 Hampton, St. Louis, MO 63139.
The information was correct except the address of the Barber Shop was 1040 N. Sarah st