Nell “Penny” Mary Green
April 9, 1918 ~ November 8, 2008
Nell Mary Penland was born on April 9,1918, in Pendleton Oregon to Clarence and Mabel Penland. She grew up in Pendleton, the second of two children. Her first job was for her father, collecting freight bills at Penland Brothers Transfer. After graduating from Pendleton High School in 1936, Penny continued her education at Oregon State Agricultural College, now Oregon State University, where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. She graduated in 1940 with a BA in Home Economics and went on to teach at Pacific Grove High School in California. While at college, Penny met Stewart Garrison Green and they later married in 1942. Penny worked at a bank back in Pendleton while Stew served with the Army Corps of Engineers in the Pacific theater during World War II. After returning from the war, Stew brought Penny to Massachusetts where he got a MA in Civil Engineering at MIT. While still back East, Penny and Stew had their first child, Gary. They finally settled in Seattle in 1946, where they raised two more children, Ginny and Gail. Besides raising her three children, Penny worked as secretary for the private engineering business Stew ran from their home. She was a Girl Scout leader, PTA president, a member of Euthenics, a Home Economics Professional group, and a very active member of Haller Lake United Methodist church for more than 60 years. Penny “adopted” two families that were sponsored by her church who had emigrated from Vietnam. Penny had a passion for sewing, making clothes and other items for her children and grandchildren. She even made the wedding dresses worn by both her daughters and daughter-in-law.
Penny was preceded in death by her husband, Stew. Besides her three children, Penny is survived by grandchildren Rebekah Green, Rachel (Green) Claflin, Bethany (Green) Scherer, Jordan Green, Kira Hubbard, Raina Hubbard and Rhiannon Miller. She is also survived by two great grandchildren, Kady Paci-Green and Natalie Green.
A memorial service will be held at 3 pm on Sunday, November 16th at the Haller Lake United Methodist Church, 13055 1st Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Haller Lake United Methodist Women Memorial Fund.