Stuart Penrose

Stuart Penrose



On April 7 Stuart Penrose "kicked the bucket" and passed away peacefully at his home in Reno, NV. Stuart, a second generation descendent of a pioneer mining and ranching family from Virginia City and Mason Valley, was born to Reynold and Maude Penrose on July 11, 1923 on the Penrose ranch in Wabuska, NV.

He spent his early years growing up on the ranch and attending school in Mason Valley. During these years he spent much time playing with his sister Barbara and his many Penrose cousins. During the depression years he moved with his family wherever his dad Reynold could find mining work, including stays in Reno, the Katherine Mine near Laughlin, Death Valley and later Auburn, CA. As a result of this constant moving he attended numerous public schools and eventually graduated from Auburn High School in 1940. After high school he attended Placer Junior College in Auburn from which he graduated in 1942.

After junior college and prior to the onset of World War II, Stu worked in mines near Carlin and Nevada City, CA. He also worked in the Richmond, CA shipyards helping to build Liberty Ships in the war effort. In 1943 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the Corps of Engineers during the Battle of the Bulge in France and Belgium. He was stationed in Marseilles, France when the Japanese surrendered and was discharged from the army in late 1945.

After returning from the war, Stu started his career with Bell Phone system. While working for the Bell system in 1947 he met his future wife Connie who was working as a nurse in a San Francisco hospital. Stu was a patient at the time due to a hand injury suffered on the job. On March 13, 1948 Stu and Connie married and spent their first year of marriage in San Francisco. In 1949 Stu was transferred to Modesto where son Ron was born in 1951 and son Jim was born in 1955.

In 1959 Stu was given the opportunity to transfer back to his native Nevada (Reno) and he jumped at the chance. He worked for the Bell System for 36 years retiring in 1982 as a senior engineer. While working for Ma Bell, Stu made many friends and those friendships continued into retirement, including get-togethers with the Bell Pioneer retiree group, and frequent lunches with friends at the "Gold and Silver".

Stu had many hobbies and was very active as a volunteer. He was an avid golfer, runner, and bicyclist and completed two long bike rides to Portland, OR and Santa Barbara, CA. During his career with Ma Bell, he would bike to work in order to stay in shape. After retirement, he kept on cycling with Jim Durner, his pal brother-in-law. He also was an avid deer hunter and enjoyed many a deer hunt with work buddies and Stu Jones, another close brother-in-law. He was a little league and Pop Warner football coach in Sparks for his sons, and also was head coach for his sons in South Reno Babe Ruth. For 29 years he was a member of the Washoe Jeep Squadron and commander of the organization for several years. The Jeep Squadron was the ground wing of the Civil Air Patrol, and Stu was involved in many successful ground searches for downed airplanes and lost, injured people over that period.

After retirement, Stu enjoyed his retirement with Connie, taking the camp trailer and "snow birding" on vacations into Arizona during the winter. He always enjoyed the family get-togethers with Connie's sisters and was like a brother to her sisters and their husbands. He enjoyed being with his grandchildren and watching their athletic and musical activities. He was able to witness his grandson Luke graduate from the United States Naval Academy in 2006, spending an entire week in Annapolis enjoying the graduation activities along with attending an Army-Navy football game.

Stu was also a member of Masonic Lodge #40 and enjoyed his Masonic activities including the Scottish Rite and Shriners. While in the Shriners he was a member of the motor patrol which performed in parades all across Nevada.

Stu was preceded in death by his father Reynold, his mother Maude, sister Barbara Reynolds and her husband Cecil Reynolds, and his good friend and brother-in-law Jim Durner. He is survived by wife Connie, son Ron (Doreen) Penrose of Reno, son Dr. James (Dianna) Penrose of Bakersfield, CA, grandchildren Lt. Luke Penrose-US Navy, Sarah Jo Penrose, Stuart James Penrose, Lacey Penrose, and Elyse Hiebert. Also surviving are wife Connie's sisters- Marge Jones, Millie Goodman, and June Durner, brother-in-laws Stuart Jones and Sam Goodman, niece Dr. Cathy Cantrell, niece Marilyn (Frank) Hall, niece Karen (Jack) Culver, niece Jan (Ken) Hall, nephew Gary Durner, and nephew Don (Cora Lee) Reynolds. Stu also is survived by three great grandchildren and many other cousins in the Penrose clan.

The Penrose family expresses their sincere thanks and gratitude to the following who provided compassionate and professional care for Stu over the last few months: Dr. Craig Conrath, Dr. Bruce Wallace, Dr. James Schaupp, and Dr. Beth Hummer. We are also thankful to the support staff of St. Mary‘s Hospice, especially nurse Michelle Lyons.

A memorial service for Stu will be conducted on April 14 at 1 p.m., Ross, Burke and Knobel Funeral Home, 2155 Kietzke Lane, Reno. Family and friends are invited to celebrate Stu as he will long be remembered for his giving and caring ways.