Penny Ridgeway Obituary

Penny Ridgeway, age 70, died peacefully on May 8, 2017, at Serenity House in Santa Barbara, California. Born on May 18, 1946, in Meadville, Pennsylvania, she was predeceased by her parents and many of her friends. Penny was raised in California, Pennsylvania, and Turkey, and as an adult lived in many states including Indiana, Florida, Texas, Minnesota, New York and Rhode Island, finally settling in her true home, Santa Barbara, California.

Penny's life was informed by quiet but deep faith and nurtured by years of education at the schools and colleges of St. Mary of the Woods, and lifelong lay service with The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary of the Woods, Indiana.

Penny was an educator both by nature and profession. She held a bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree in education. She was a teacher of art and mathematics, and, during the course of her career in various states, she also worked as a school administrator and principal, and finally as an educational test consultant and achievement test writer for several states, including Alaska, Minnesota, Texas and Florida.

Penny was a world traveler, an avid reader, a member of three book clubs and a poetry club. She was an exceptional and sought-after tennis player, and a volunteer for service and educational organizations wherever she found herself, including the Santa Barbara Monroe School Tutorial Center. Penny's greatest joy was touching the lives of her students.

Penny's friends remember her warmth, encouragement, and smiles best summed up in the following excerpt from a letter to Penny by one of her many friends. "You show and give warmth, comfort and sympathy ... time and humor and abundant smiles, laughter and friendship ... You have lifted my spirits more than once, given me hope more than once, and have encouraged me to persevere in some of my life's happenings. This you are able to do just by being you - it is what you are all about and exactly who you are."

Penny requested that her obituary include a note saying, "Thank you Dear Friends in Santa Barbara, New York, Florida and Rhode Island for adding fun, inspiration and joyfulness to my life."

A private service will be held for Penny in July, 2017.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Santa Barbara News-Press from Jun. 23 to Jun. 27, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Penny Ridgeway

6 Entries

Anne Marie Omweg

June 17, 2020

Penny is still very much a part of my life. When I think of her, I am with her in spirit. True friendship never dies, and Pen was a dear friend to me. She had such a big heart, and that heart took its share of hits. Now she is free of the body that stopped serving her and she soars in her freedom.

Anne Marie OMWEG

June 17, 2019

Although it's been more than two years since my friend Penny passed, my memories are as alive as when she was just a phone call away. Pen and I worked together. We were both hard workers, and just to add some balance to our days, we did things that were purely for fun. Once we took an acting class in the basement of the Carrillo hotel, where Pen did an improv that gave me long term laughter, I still can see her antics and laugh all over again. She had a keen sense of humor. Neither of us smoked, but on one cold night we sat in her little sports car smoking cigarettes (windows up) and seeing what kind of unspoken acting messages could come from how we handled the cigarettes. We did this for at least an hour and exited the car both sick and reeking, but laughing...so many good memories. I miss my friend.

B M

December 9, 2017

You have my deepest sympathy. May good memories provide solace for you and your family during this challenging time and may God provide you with assurance that you will see your loved one again. John 17:3

Anne Marie Omweg

July 10, 2017

Pen,

You have been a close and treasured friend, and I already miss you dearly. We have so many memories! Such fun with improv, intuiting in the spirit group, our spur of the moment adventures, your visit to my then skeleton of a house in Rhode Island.

We met in the hallway at San Roque School, where she scouted for a Math position. Pen was a top tier teacher who focused in on each student to know exactly how he/she learned, and to praise the process. She was affirming, always truthful, and caring. Her students, now adults, say she was one of their best teachers. I am thankful for her gifts and talent and what it did for the our students.

Pen, you left the world a better place for being here. May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Anne Marie

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