Penny Rose

Penny was born in 1939 to Henry (Hank) and Laura Bolen of Besoco, West Virginia. The family, including Penny and her three siblings, Armour, Paul, and Barbara, moved to Arizona at the start of WWII where Hank found work constructing military bases. The family established a home site in Surprise, Arizona. Penny graduated from Peoria High School Class of 1958 and soon after enlisted in the US Navy. Following basic training, she was assigned to Headquarters 3rd Naval District, New York, New York. While her routine duties were clerical she was often assigned to participate in Navy public relations events.

During her service, Penny met a very lucky US Marine – Jack Rose. Together they became the love of each other’s life. They married in 1961 and as soon as their enlistments were completed they moved to Glendale, Arizona to start a family. Penny gave birth to three daughters, Kimberly (Ron Couch), Lisa (Mark Thompson), and Jackie. Her family flourished to include eleven grandchildren and nine great–grandchildren. Penny’s passion was seeing the health, happiness, and support of her family. An accomplished homemaker, she still found time to explore her interest in art and became an exceptional quilter creating gifts now treasured by family and friends.

In recent years Penny was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease; a condition she accepted and coped with well. Unfortunately, she was also at times being treated and sometimes hospitalized for serious lung infections. And that was the case again when on November 21, 2023, she passed away peacefully surrounded by her daughters, son-in-laws, grandchildren, friends, and husband of 62 years.

Penny was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Paul, and grandson Seth. She held strong beliefs and often assured us that we would all be together again. Until then she will be terribly missed.

Services will be held on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at West Resthaven Funeral Home, 6450 W. Northern Avenue in Glendale. A visitation will be held from 9 AM to 10 AM with a celebration of life immediately following at 10 AM. Penny will be laid to rest with military honors at Resthaven Park Cemetery in Glendale. A repast will be held following the graveside service also at West Resthaven Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Penny’s name be made to either Ryan House or to the Parkinson Research Foundation.