Robert W. Penn

Robert Wayne Penn August 7, 1925 - June 21, 2015 On June 21st, Father's Day, America lost a Veteran, and a true hero. Robert Wayne Penn was born August 7, 1925, in Long Beach, California and raised in Sierra Madre. The son of Percy and Hilda Penn whose twin brothers and two sisters greeted "Bob", the youngest and last child, to the Penn family. Bob's childhood was full of activities. Father Percy was manager of a Safeway and Bob was a constant volunteer at helping in every department. A neighbor buddy and Bob got together and grew corn in a vacant lot. Bob learned how to play the saxophone at school where he played for all the sporting events and many gigs with his buddies. His favorite sport was baseball and second base was where he excelled. Mt. Wilson was a favorite place for Bob to hike up to and spend nights. Racing his car at the Southern California dry lakes got crowded into his busy life. The local newspaper found Bob delivering it every day and the local theater relied on Bob to be a ticket collector, popcorn maker, marquis changer and the film "picker-upper"!! The Navy was Bob's choice when World War II broke out. He served in the South Pacific on small ships for four years as a 1st class radioman earning four battle stars During the island invasions and the loss of two ships, the sinking of which demonstrated Bob's swimming ability AND endurance saving the lives of many of his crew mates. On the last day of World War II, Bob's ship was in the Okinawa Bay awaiting the orders for the imminent invasion of Japan, but thankfully providence prevailed. During Bob's service in the South Pacific the development of a pen pal relationship took place with a girl named Wanda who eventually became Bob's wife upon his return to civilian life in 1946. He started working for Pacific Tel & Tel as a lineman when in 1950 he was surprised to be called back into the Navy. His questioning as to the legality of this recall was met with a stern "the Navy makes no mistakes". Two more years of Navy life was met by Bob with thankfulness. Teaching recruits and recalls to copy and speed up Morse Code gave Bob a new experience which aided his return to work with Pac Tel. Two children joined the Penn family - happily - Steven and Suzanne and several years later Bob was transferred to San Rafael. Bob's adult life was very "busy". The saxophone was picked up again when he joined The Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District Non-Marching Band (also known as The Sewer Band) eventually becoming its 1st president. His interest in automobiles continued by beginning work on restoring antique cars and joining The Antique Car Club. His efforts were rewarded repeatedly, winning 1st class trophies at various antique car shows. He started at Pac Tel as a lineman and 38 years later he was the manager of the San Rafael business office. Upon retirement, Bob volunteered at an antique car garage for several years and later ran the Garbarino World War II Military Vehicle Museum where he maintained the vehicles, conducted tours of the museum and was the 'commander' behind the annual Fourth of July parade deployments. Those preceding the demise of Bob were Wanda, his wife of 58 years and his twin brothers, Ralph & Raymond. Surviving members of Bob's family are Mary & Betty, his two older sisters, his son, Steven (Drucilla), his daughter, Suzanne (Mark Tucker), his four grandchildren, Jordan, Jonathon (Ashley), Jilian (Norman Metzner) & Severin. Also surviving is Lois Schwab, his constant & loving soul mate.