Penny Vanderpool

Penny Lue (Ware) Vanderpool age 65, passed away at Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Monday, December 26, 2022.

Penny was born August 21, 1957, in Ottawa, Kansas to the late James Ware and Dorothy (Reekie) Ware.  The family moved to Coffeyville in the early 1960’s.  As a young girl she attended Lowell grade school and graduated from Field Kindley Memorial High School in 1975.

Penny married Corporal David Vanderpool USMC in September of 1979 at the Bible Baptist Church in Coffeyville.  The next 17 years found Penny living across the USA, from the North Carolina coast to Puget Sound. After David’s retirement from the Marine Corps, the family made their way home in Coffeyville.

Penny was an amazing wife and mother.  Penny was a proud Marine wife and held down the fort for her family while David was deployed protecting and serving his country.  She not only maintained their home and cared for their children, but she also held a full-time job, was active in all the kid’s activities often the leader of those activities.  In her spare time, she was taking college classes maintaining a 3.75 grade point average; while waiting at various activities or sporting practices for her children she always had a book in her hand studying whenever time allowed.  She completed her associate degrees degree at Craven Community College in New Bern, North Carolina.  When the family returned, she enrolled in classes at Coffeyville Community College to freshen up her computer skills and once again excelled in her classes being inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa.

Penny worked at Sabreliner, Cessna, Eck Heat and Air and completed her working days as a case worker for Department of Children and Family Services.

Penny enjoyed crafting, baking with her grandchildren, quilting and old west reenacting. She had a very strong sense of Patriotism and was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 20 for over 20 years, serving as a Unit Officer for most of that time. She also served as President of the 3rd District Kansas American Legion Auxiliary.  Penny was extremely proud of her 17 years as a Marine wife, what she called “the toughest job in the Marine Corps”.

Penny was preceded in death by her father James in 1978 and sister Connie Lee (Ware) Tosh in 2009.  She is survived by her husband David of the home; son James Vanderpool of Independence; daughter Vicki Clark of Dearing; eight grandchildren; her mother Dorothy Ware of Augusta, Kansas; brothers Robert Ware, of Vera Oklahoma, Richard Ware, of South Haven, Kansas; sisters Deanna Chandler, of Vera, Oklahoma and Linda Bailey, of August, Kansas.

Viewing and register signing will begin on January 2, 2023, at 2pm at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, 2405 Woodland Ave., Coffeyville, Kansas. Her family will receive friends also on Monday, January 2, 2023, from 5 to 7 pm.   Penny’s request was to be cremated and a Memorial service will be held on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 2pm at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel and inurnment will follow the service at Robbins Cemetery west of Coffeyville.   The family has requested contributions be made payable to Folds of Honor in Penny’s memory and may be left in care of the chapel.   Services will be streamed live under her obituary page at www.fordwulfbrunschapel.com where you may also leave an online condolence or share a memory with the family.