Raymond Philip Pennock
April 17, 1924 - May 13, 2018

Raymond Philip Pennock was born on April 17, 1924, the fourth child of Arthur Ridgman and Mabel Elliott Pennock, at the family fruit farm in Meadowdale near Edmonds, WA. After graduation from Edmonds High School in 1942, he attended the University of Washington before being drafted into the U.S. Army. He first served at Camp Roberts, CA, as a clerk/typist. In mid 1944 he was sent to Europe joining the 1st Infantry Division aka Big Red One, 18th Infantry Regiment Company B during the Battle of the Bulge. Ray crossed the Rhine River over the Remagen Bridge. He was seriously injured 60 miles from Berlin just before WWII ended in Europe. He attained the rank of Corporal, often functioning as acting squad leader. Ray was awarded a Purple Heart with Oak Leaf cluster, 2 Bronze stars and 3 campaign stars.

After the end of WWII he was discharged from the Army and returned to the University of Washington. He studied business and personnel management, along with continuing to play clarinet in the UW Marching Band and the UW Concert Band. He joined the Management Club, whose members were mostly attending the UW on the GI Bill, and was made president. While in the club he met Ruth Esther Hoyle, a former Coast Guard SPAR from Worcester, Massachusetts who had been stationed in Seattle during the war. Ray eventually asked Ruth to be group secretary. He married Ruth in 1951 and had 2 sons. Following graduation he worked at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, WA, then the Boeing Company, where his career in Personnel and Human Resources lasted over 30 years. In 1957 Ray and Ruth joined the Crown Hill United Methodist Church.
Throughout his life, and especially in retirement he had an exceptional record of community service. He was active at their church, tending the grounds for many years, along with many activities for the Seattle District United Methodist Ministry Board. He helped with the creation, development and maintenance of Crown Hill's Baker Park. For many years he was involved with the Northend Emergency Foodbank, then the Ballard Food Bank, both as a volunteer and a board member. He served with the Museum of Flight becoming their longest serving docent with over 5700 hours. He was involved with Boy Scout Troup 123 and Junior Achievement. He was named a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International Foundation. He was honored by the Native American Urban Outreach Program with the Chief Eagle Blanket, in honor of Chief Seelatsee, Chief of the Yakima Nation.
Ray was preceded in death by his wife Ruth in 2014. He is survived by his sons James (Beth) and granddaughter Laurel (Chris Pederson), Phil (Diane Abbey), and several nieces and nephews plus three great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ballard Food Bank or the Museum of Flight.
A Memorial Service will be held at Crown Hill United Methodist Church in the near future and service information will be updated as soon as available.

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