Penelope "Penny" Hall Porter

Penelope "Penny" Hall Porter passed away Monday, January 7, 2019 at the age of 91. Penny was born April 29, 1927 in New York, New York. She graduated from The Ethel Walker School in Simsbury, Connecticut and went on to attend Bennington College and earn a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Moravian College. Her love of children inspired her to establish Trinity Nursery and Kindergarten in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania in 1957. Penny was one of the most successful freelancers ever to hit Reader’s Digest. She published stories in a wide range of national circulation magazines, including Arizona Highways, Arizona Magazine, Catholic Digest, Guideposts, Honda, Arizona Farmer and Rancher, and most recently Chicken Soup for the Soul and Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul. She began writing for elementary, middle and high school levels because of a need for compelling materials for these age groups, and adapted her stories for all ages while compiling numerous collections of short stories. Penny was also the published author of The Keymaker, Howard’s Monster, Adobe Secrets, Heartstrings and Tail-Tuggers and the biography of Eugene Gifford Grace, "As We Remember Him.” She was a frequent speaker at workshops across the country, as well as past President of The Society of Southwestern Authors. Above all, Penny enjoyed time with her family, who loved and adored her. She is survived by her six children, Emmeline (Emmy) Porter and husband, Mike Baker, William (Bud) Porter and wife Kathy, Jennifer (Jenny) Molina, Scott Porter and wife Dian, Rebecca (Becky) Huusfeldt and husband Kaj and Jessica (Jaymee) Hernandez and husband David. She is also survived by her eight grandchildren, Will Porter, Matt Molina, Jonathan Porter, Michelle Eichenberg, Michael Molina, Meghan Porter, Nick Hernandez and Alex Hernandez as well as nine great grandchildren, Terrielle Porter, Lilly Porter, Penelope Eichenberg, William Eichenberg, Preston Porter, Andreas Molina, Paisley Porter, Emmeline Eichenberg and Adrianna Molina. Penny was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 53 years, William Wilson (Bill) Porter, former World War II POW and purple heart and bronze star recipient, her parents Alton Parker (Pink) Hall and Emmeline Grace Guthrie, her brother Alton Parker (Parkie) Hall, Jr. and her grandparents Eugene Gifford and Marion Brown Grace and Judge Alton B. and Amy Parker. Notably, Eugene Gifford Grace became president of Bethlehem Steel Corporation at the young age of 37. Judge Alton B. Parker was best known as the Democrat who lost the 1904 presidential election to incumbent Theodore Roosevelt. The family wishes to thank the staff at Starfish Care Homes at Indian Ridge for the loving care they gave to Penny. A Celebration of Life will be held at Bring’s Broadway Chapel, 6910 East Broadway Boulevard, Tucson, Arizona 85710 at 2 P.M. on Monday, January 14, 2019 followed by a private burial. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association at www.lbda.org.