Richard Lynn Penick

He was born to Joseph Dwight Penick and Fredda Virdia Penick, joining an older brother, Jeffery Wayne Penick, who was eagerly waiting for him. Rio Linda was the place Lynn always called home until the final two years of his life.

Though his given name was Richard, he became known simply as Lynn early in childhood. With several Richards in his class, he decided it was easier for everyone — and that name stayed with him for the rest of his life.

An April Fools’ baby through and through, Lynn wasn’t a fool — but he was funny. At 6’5” and over 300 pounds, he was impossible to miss, and his larger-than-life presence was matched only by his joy and sense of humor. He was a lifelong jokester, often making up songs with his best friend Robert “Bob” Brown AKA Bunky. As kids, we were regularly embarrassed — dropped off at school with the car windows down while he sang loudly and proudly. He loved sneaking up behind you, digging his fingers into your sides, and yelling “gilly gilly.” He did not enjoy this being done in return — if you managed it, he’d jokingly growl, “I’ll kill you.”

In 1975, Lynn married Debra Lynn Penick. Together they raised three children: Shannon Marie Craddock, Heather Lynn Wattenbarger, and Eric Scott Penick. He was a good dad. Family life included plenty of camping and fishing, and time spent together mattered to him.

When asked what he did for a living, Lynn liked to say he was “a butcher, a baker, and a candlestick maker” — and in his case, all three were true. As a young adult, he worked as a butcher for Armour Meat Company until a serious back injury ended that chapter. He was retrained in denture-making, though it never suited him. Eventually, he found his calling as the bakery manager at Albertsons, where he became affectionately known as “The Cookie Man.”

With help from his father, who built a shopping cart into a train engine, Lynn donned a conductor’s outfit, complete with train horn, and handed out fresh cookies to children throughout the store. His bakery became one of the top-performing in the chain, and he thrived on interacting with the public. His reputation followed him everywhere — cruises to Alaska, Mexico, and beyond — where someone inevitably recognized him and exclaimed, “Hey, it’s the Cookie Man!” The “candlestick maker” title came later through volunteering at Sutter’s Fort with his grandchildren’s school projects.

Being Papa was perhaps Lynn’s greatest joy. He is survived by his grandchildren: Johnathan Micah Davis, Nathan William Carey, Jaimee Cheyenne Wattenbarger, Logan Lee Carey, Mariah Kaytlynn Carey, Ciarrah Wylde Farmer, Madison Aubree Wattenbarger, Gannon Scott Brown, Molly Jo Brown, and Jace Richard Bryan; and by his great-grandchildren: Zedekiah Gabriel Ortiz, Emersyn Grace Ortiz, Lorelei Marie Davis, Julian Juni Villalpando, Walker Thomas Davis, Everett Roy Davis, Henry Dawson Farmer, Olivia Drew Moen, and Abigail May Farmer. Though many of the little ones were initially intimidated by his size and booming voice, once they understood he was Papa, they adored him just as much as he adored them.

He is also lovingly remembered by Colleen Bryan and Steven Hoops, whose love, presence, and care enriched his life in lasting ways.

Lynn is survived by his sister Kathleen Gayle Penick. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Dwight Penick and Fredda Virdia Penick; his brother, Jeffery Wayne Penick; his sister, Deborah Marlene Penick; and his wife, Debra Lynn Penick.

In 2010, Lynn suffered a traumatic brain injury after falling from a neighbor’s roof while trying to help — an event that caused him to age rapidly. In late 2023, during a visit to Texas, he decided he wasn’t returning to California. Texas became home. He bought a small lakefront house and a boat, soaking up the sunshine and enjoying retirement. As his needs increased, he moved in with his daughter Heather and her partner Steven, who lovingly cared for him until the end. His final season was filled with football, boat rides, good food, and a memorable trip to Mardi Gras with his longtime girlfriend Teri, whom he loved dearly.

Lynn never met a stranger. Growing up, it wasn’t uncommon for people in need to show up at the house, where he would feed them in exchange for a little yard work — a generosity modeled by his parents.

He was deeply loved by a large extended family, lifelong friends, and a close-knit community shaped by small-town roots and shared memories that spanned generations.

Most importantly, Lynn loved Jesus. Throughout his life, he attended Rio Linda Church of the Nazarene which later became Lifepoint Church, and Lone Star Cowboy Church in Texas. On May 18th 2025, he was re-baptized alongside his daughter Heather and granddaughters Ciarrah and Madison. No matter what life handed him, he never lost his faith or his love for God.

2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”