Ethel Mae Crook

PENNY CROOK

Our Dear Wife, Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother; Penny Crook passed away peacefully on January 26, 2025, at the Lompoc Valley Medical Center at age 90 (almost 91!). She was born February 25,1934 in Hopkinsville, KY to William Ruffin Upton and Essie Mae Upton.

Penny is survived by her husband, Jerry Crook, eldest daughter, Vicki Smith, (Don), son, Jerry Crook, Jr., (Susan), and daughter, Toni Bianco. Four grandchildren Cheyenne Crook, Ryan Smith, Dana Watts, and Julia Bianco and also three great-grandchildren, Conner Fargo, Haley Perez and Tyler Crook. Her extended family includes seven grandchildren, Brooke Bianco, Don Smith Jr., Jodi Radford, Ariel Fely, Daniel Smith, Jennifer Stock, David Smith and along with their spouses, eighteen additional great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. She is loved and will be dearly missed by all!

Penny was preceded in death by her parents; William and Essie Upton, her daughter Jennette MacTavish, her siblings; James “Bubba” Upton, Billy Upton, Maggie Lancaster, Nancy Browning, Betty Hammons, Susan Foster, Kathy Ellis, Annie Upton, and Johnny Upton, grandson Cody Crook. She is survived by three siblings, Carolyn Smith and Rick Upton (Karen), Debra Kellog (Jeff) and hundreds of cousins, nieces and nephews in our very large family.

Penny became a Certified Psychiatric Aide back in 1955 at the early age of 21 as she had a great love of caring for others. She met Jerry Crook while he served in the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell, KY and they married in 1962 in Shawnee Town, Illinois. After Jerry’s service ended in 1964, they moved to Santa Barbara, CA. Penny assisted in opening the original Sambo’s Restaurant in Santa Barbara and later moved on to work as an Administrative Assistant and Campus Aide at Ventura High School. She finally retired from the Ventura County Schools finishing her career at Santa Paula High School in the early 80’s. She was a member of the Carpinteria Women’s Club and learned to play golf so she could join Jerry in his passion for golf. They both enjoyed golfing together at many golf courses around the Country. Penny was a long time member of the Soule Park Women’s Golf Club, the Olivas Woman’s Golf Club, and she was on the WGA 2005 Board at Village Country Club in Lompoc, CA where Jerry and Penny moved when they retired.

Being born and raised in Kentucky, Penny was an excellent cook and served up a lot of Southern comfort foods. Her family especially loved her chicken and dumplings, sausage gravy, and her infamous coconut cake and carrot cake. She loved family gatherings for all occasions as her family was always the most important thing in her life! She was the life of a party, and her family and friends will miss her loyal nature, quick wit, sense of humor, her big warm hugs, and that unforgettable, beautiful, smile!

The Family of Penny Crook want to thank all the Doctors, Nurses, and other caregivers from the Lompoc Valley Medical Center, Sansum Medical Clinic, and Cottage Health Care for their caring and compassion for Penny in her final days before she passed. In honor of Penny, the family asks that in lieu of flowers, if you would please consider giving to one of the following charities: Tunnel for Towers, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, American Cancer Society, and the Wounded Warrior Project.

Penny is now at Peace in His Kingdom and with all her Heavenly Family!