Penny Ward

Penny Ward, 76, of Champaign, died at home on Thursday, August 17, 2017 surrounded by her family.

There will be a visitation from 10-11 am on Tuesday, Aug. 22, at Owens Funeral Home, 101 N. Elm St., Champaign. The funeral service will begin at 11:00 at the funeral home with Rev. Vern Fein officiating. Entombment will be at Grandview Memorial Gardens, Champaign.

Penny was born on May 22, 1941 in Champaign to George Kenny and Mary Wooldridge and was raised by her grandparents, Guy B and Almeda Wooldridge. Later in life Penny found great joy in having the opportunity to be a part of raising her own granddaughter, Melia, just as her grandparents did for her. She married her best friend, David Ward on Dec. 31, 1983 in Champaign. He survives.

Other survivors include her 3 daughters, Kim (Al) Leighton of OH, Angela Nelson of WI and Lisa (Bob) Kobe of Champaign; 2 step-daughters, Amy Ward of Champaign and Kelly (Adam) Fein of Savoy; 15 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Diane (Joe) Armstrong and Georgette Rucker and 1 brother, Chuck Adams. She also leaves behind her beloved dog, PeeWee, who was her partner in life (along with her husband).

Penny attended and raised her children at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Urbana. She graduated from nursing school at Parkland College and worked at Burnham Hospital in her younger years. Penny retired from Rantoul Products as a Traffic Manager.

Penny was an honest and kind woman who adored her family. She had a special place in her heart for her first great grandchildren, Harper and Adler. She was very accepting of all people, no matter their background, and treated them all like her own family.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, www.stjude.org or 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.