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GRETA ”PENNY” ANNETTE SARVELA
August 19, 1939 ˜ February 14, 2019
Greta, aka Penny, was born August, 19, 1939 to Bob and Pearl McNeely in Pennsylvania, and died Feb. 14, 2019 at home with her family by her side. When she was 2, her mother died and was buried on December 7th 1941 _ the same day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. When her father enlisted in the US Army he allowed his sister Allene and Charles Riggs to adopt Greta. He returned from the war and remained close throughout her life.
In 1959, Greta joined the US Air Force and while in training acquired her “Penny” nickname from her habit of wearing a shiny penny in her civilian loafers.
She met her future husband on her birthday at her first duty station at the Travis AFB Hospital in California. Six months later they were married and began an 18 year blur of time in which she and family moved to the East Coast, to the Mid West and back to California. As a military wife, Penny was expected to present the same military standards as her husband. His promotions depended on outstanding performance from her as well as his own. As a result she became an active volunteer in the local PTA, Girl Scouts, POW/MIA Committee, base wives club and chapel and was awarded NCO Wife of the Year at Scott AFB in 1972.
Finally, in 1977, she moved with family to Hockinson, Washington (her husband’s rural home). Penny continued her volunteer efforts with Girl Scouts, teaching First Aid with the Red Cross, working with special education students and working the local elections. Many people benefited from her community efforts, but not to the sacrifice of family. Penny’s family was very important to her. Here, we must define family as daughters, their spouses and grand kids, but also includes several people who gained family status through scouting and day care over the years. All of these people benefited from Penny’s ability and willingness to listen to them.
Penny loved the outdoors and walking daily at Lewisville Park. She enjoyed talking with the other walkers and runners. We will all miss her.
Penny was married for 59 years, had 4 daughters, 10 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial gathering will be held on Sunday, March 31st, 1 to 3 PM at the Battle Ground Community Center. Please come and share your stories with family.
Please sign her guest book @ www.columbian.com/obits
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
4 Entries
It was such a pleasure sharing stories with you.
Both Jon and I will miss you at our club meetings and events. You and your family always made them much more interesting.
May peace and comfort be with your family.
Carolyn and Jon Simpson
March 30, 2019
I STAND ON SHORE AND WATCH
MY LOVE SAIL AWAY
I THEN MUST WAIT
TO SET SAIL
robert sarvela
March 27, 2019
Grandma was the strongest woman I know. I'm so glad that she passed that strength to my mother, myself and all the other people she has touched.
It is so hard without her. It still doesn't quite feel real.
I love you.
Candace Backstrom
March 18, 2019
What a blessing you were to my daughters. They loved you so much. You were more than the scout leader to them all these years... you were the grandma they needed. Thank you Penny!
Diana Dewey
March 18, 2019
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