Rose G. (Crandall) Penrod

Rose G. (Crandall) Penrod, 105, of Casey, Illinois, passed away on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 7:53 p.m. at Heartland Manor & Rehabilitation in Casey.

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 World War II. Rose and Paul enjoyed 58 years together, attending the Indy 500 and visiting Branson, Missouri, before he passed away in 2003.

Rose was a 1938 graduate of Casey High School and attended Brown’s Business College in Terre Haute, Indiana. She held various positions throughout her career, working at Union Hospital and The Goodie Shop in Terre Haute, Watson Grain in Paxton, Farm Bureau in Paris, and Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul. After moving near O’Hare Airport, she worked at a laundromat and Bensenville State Bank. When they returned to Clark County, she worked at The Bank of Casey and spent 35 years with H&R Block in Casey.

Rose was a member of the Bellair Church of Christ and belonged to the Railroad Women’s Club. She helped organize the Home Extension in Lincoln School north of Bensenville. In the 1950s, Rose and Paul, along with her siblings and their spouses, saved the Moonshine Store from fire. In the 1980s, she contacted hundreds of postmasters to locate former service members and organized the 20th Air Force Guam Group Reunion for 30 years. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and later became a proud member of the American Rosie the Riveter Association for her wartime work on the air base.

Although Rose and Paul did not have children of their own, Rose was beloved by her nieces, nephew, and extended family through the generations. She is survived by her great-nieces, Lisa (Brad) Huddlestun of Greenup, Illinois, Lori (Mark) Scimio of Fairview Heights, Illinois, Leslie (Joe) Boston of Hillsboro, Illinois, RoseEllen (Tom) Osborne of Robinson, Illinois, and Amber (Dave) Malone of Robinson, Illinois; great-nephews, Jim Hills of Maricopa, Arizona, Gary (Jo) Hills of Charleston, Illinois, Terry Hills of Mattoon, Illinois, and Johnathan Parrott of Bloomington, Illinois; nephew-in-law, Greg (Cindy) Parrott of Robinson, Illinois; her husband’s niece, Lynne Day of Terre Haute, Indiana; and many great-great-nieces and nephews and great-great-great-nieces and nephews. 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; and special cousin, Jackie Dickey.

Funeral service will be conducted at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at Markwell Funeral Home with Rev. Larry Abraham officiating. Burial will follow in Casey Cumberland Cemetery, Casey, Illinois. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Saturday morning prior to the service at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cottonwood Community Center, c/o Markwell Funeral Home, P.O. Box 175, Casey, Illinois, or Simple Blessings, 203 E. Monroe Avenue, Casey, Illinois 62420.