Edith Penelope “Penny” Clarke Heidrick passed away on July 20, 2022 at her home in Sonoma, California. Born June 18, 1942 to Charles F. Heidrick and Bonnie N. Heidrick, she grew up in Beaumont, Texas and attended both the University of Texas at Austin and SMU in Dallas. Then, as always, she took life by the horns, moved to Colorado for a few years in the early 1970's, then on to the San Francisco Bay Area where she resided until early 2000’s. In retirement in 2010, after making many trips back and forth to Texas, she finally decided to move there, living in Austin for two years. But missing California and friends there, she returned to her home in Pacifica in 2012 and then up to Sonoma.
During her professional career Penny worked at Dolby Labs, Inc. in San Francisco as the corporate paralegal doing patents and trademarks during which she witnessed first-hand major technological advancements in sound. Before and in retirement, Penny was active in several charitable organizations in the area.
Over many years Penny traveled extensively, including London, Paris, Switzerland, Italy and countless other international destinations as well as across the United States seeing relatives and friends, taking in the sights and great experiences like the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and the Las Vegas Strip. Most recently she cruised through the Panama Canal on the Queen Victoria with her cousin Sue.
She was an avid reader and one “smart cookie” as she might have said about someone else. In a conversation she would add in a measured soft East Texas tone “well I want to hear more about that,” whatever the topic. She could also roar like her Mama when the occasion called for it. Her family often lovingly called her Prunella, a nickname her father pinned on her in childhood after a character in the Allen’s Alley radio comedy of the 1940’s.
Penny was predeceased by her father Charles, mother Bonnie, brother Charles IIl, and cousins Thomas Barker and Ann Barker Wohletz. She is survived by her beloved "chosen daughter" Barbara Paulissen (Austin), cousins Sue Barker Kika (Orlando), Clarke Heidrick, Christopher Heidrick, Ellen Heidrick Jewell (Houston), Stephanie Kika (LA), Caroline Kika (Orlando), Robert Heidrick (San Diego), Margaret Heidrick, Charles S. Heidrick, Kirkland Heidrick Keuning, Emily Jewell Dunn (Seattle), Martin Jewell (Del Norte, Colorado), Loren Wohletz (Pensacola) and Sonya Wohletz (Olympia, WA), and "chosen grandson" Danny Bird (Pacifica), as well as extended family and longtime friends and, most recently, her beloved group she lovingly called "The Bad Girls".
To know Penny was to love her. In her own words, written before her death "She lived. She had a great time. She died". We will miss you Penny Girl!
A memorial service for Penny will be held 10:30 am Monday, August 8, 2022 at Weed Corley Fish Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, 5416 Parkcrest Drive, Austin, TX 78731. A private burial will be held at Austin Memorial Park.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.wcfishnorth.com for the HEIDRICK family.
SHARE OBITUARYSHARE
v.1.11.6