Rose G. (Crandall) Penrod's Obituary
Rose G. (Crandall) Penrod, age 105 years, 10 months, and 5 days, of Casey, Illinois passed away on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 7:53 pm at Heartland Manor & Rehabilitation, Casey, Illinois.
She was born on October 11, 1919, on the family farm one-fourth mile east of Moonshine, Illinois, the daughter of Cam Dow Crandall and Nora (Bennett) Crandall. On November 19, 1944, she married George Paul Penrod in Colorado Springs, Colorado, two days before Paul shipped overseas to Guam during WWII. Rose and Paul enjoyed 58 years together and enjoyed attending the Indy 500 and visiting Branson, MO before he passed away in 2003.
Although Rose and Paul did not have children of their own, Rose loved and was adored by her nieces, nephew, and her extended family through the generations. Survivors include her great-nieces, Lisa (Brad) Huddlestun, her faithful caretaker, of Greenup, IL, Lori (Mark) Scimio of Fairview Heights, IL, Leslie (Joe) Boston of Hillsboro, IL, RoseEllen (Tom) Osborne of Robinson, IL and Amber (Dave) Malone of Robinson, IL; great-nephews, Jim Hills of Maricopa, AZ, Gary (Jo) Hills of Charleston, IL, Terry Hills of Mattoon, IL and Johnathan Parrott of Bloomington, IL; nephew-in-law, Greg (Cindy) Parrott of Robinson, IL; her husband’s niece, Lynne Day of Terre Haute, IN; many other great-great-nieces and nephews; and great-great-great nieces and nephews as well as many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother and sister-in-law, Fred and Faith Crandall; sisters and brothers-in-law, Emily and Jim Vale and Florence and John Adkisson; nephew and wife, Larry and Sue Crandall; nieces, Linda Parrott and Joan Hills; great niece-in-law, Nancy Hills; and special cousin, Jackie Dickey.
Rose was a 1938 graduate of Casey High School. She attended Brown’s Business College in Terre Haute, IN. She held several jobs over the years working at Union Hospital and The Goodie Shop in Terre Haute. She also worked at Watson Grain in Paxton, Farm Bureau in Paris, and Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul. After they moved near O’Hare Airport, she worked at the Laundromat and Bensenville State Bank and had many dear friends in their neighborhood. When they returned to Clark County, she worked at The Bank of Casey and 35 years for H&R Block with her beloved boss, Susie, in Casey.
Rose was a member of the Bellair Church of Christ. She helped organize the Home Extension in Lincoln School north of Bensenville and she belonged to the Railroad Women’s Club. In the 1950’s, Rose & Paul, her siblings, and their spouses kept the Moonshine Store from being destroyed by fire. In the 1980’s she contacted hundreds of postmasters to find former service members to invite them to reunite at the 20th Air Force Guam Group Reunion which she organized and planned for 30 years. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and later in life a proud member of the American Rosie the Riveter Association for her work on the air base during the war.
Funeral service will be conducted at 12:00 p.m., Saturday, August 23, 2025 at Markwell Funeral Home with Rev. Larry Abraham officiating. Burial will follow in the Casey Cumberland Cemetery, Casey, IL. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Saturday morning prior to the service at Markwell Funeral Home, 200 N. Central Ave., Casey, IL.
Memorials may be made to Cottonwood Community Center, c/o Markwell Funeral Home, PO Box 175, Casey, IL or Simple Blessings, 203 E Monroe Ave., Casey, IL 62420.
Special thanks to the staff of Simple Blessings Assisted Living.
To view the full obituary, send a condolence message, light a candle, or post photos, visit https://www.markwellfuneralhome.com. Markwell Funeral Home, Casey, IL is in charge of the arrangements.
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