Penny Sue Goodrich

She was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, and grew up in an Air Force family. Proud and mesmerized by the aeronautical advancements she witnessed her father participate in, such as flying the B-52 bomber and being part of the Space Shuttle development team, she was moved deeply by Air Force flyovers, particularly the Blue Angels.

Penny’s family moved all over the world for her father’s assignments, which made having long-term friendships difficult. Her brother, Topper, was her best friend. They won several swing dance contests together and had a very playful, witty relationship. The feeling of love and belonging with her cousins, aunts, and uncles from Weeping Water, Nebraska were her closest held and cherished childhood memories.

Rome, New York, is where she moved for her junior and senior year. After graduation, she headed to California State Long Beach for a couple of years before working at TWA in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she and her husband started their family and built their own home (constructed it themselves), then moved to Mililani, Hawaii in 1977. In 1984, she and her children moved back to California to care for her ailing mother. She lived in Lancaster until 1995 before moving to Irvine. In 2016, Austin, Texas, became Penny’s home. It is where she found the community and belonging she had always desired.

Being a mother was her lifelong dream, and her desire to interact with children never ended. She was at every sporting event to cheer on her children and then her grandchildren. She was grandmotherly to many in need, and it filled her soul as well. Whether it was carpooling the grandkids to and from their activities, reading stories, coloring, baking cookies, or decorating cakes, she delighted in every moment while looking forward to the next.

She was a Disney Adult who worked on her family genealogy in between blanket making, photography, crafts, puzzles, reading (two book clubs!), scrapbooking, potlucks, neighborhood visits, church, and volunteering. Being around people and those shared experiences kept her going.

Travel was a love she pursued and took advantage of as much as possible in retirement, and was looking forward to celebrating her 80th birthday “cruising” with her family in August.

Penny passed away peacefully in her sleep from natural causes at home on February 16th, living independently until her final moment, as was her wish. She is reunited with her beloved parents Bonnie and Bill, brother Topper, and her greatest canine love D’Vash.

A heartfelt thanks goes out to all of her friends, neighbors, and church members for keeping her active, included, and feeling loved. Rest in peace, Mom! You are missed.

Love, Holly and Van