Penny Elaine Baldridge, 73, of Port Townsend, Washington, peacefully passed away on Nov. 27, 2022. Penny was a lifelong resident of Port Townsend, born at St. John’s Hospital to Henry R. and Emily A. Schmidt.
Penny was a graduate of the Port Townsend High School Class of 1967. It was during her years in school that Penny started down the path of helping and serving others. In high school, she busied herself with many activities, but loved her time in the Order Of Rainbow For Girls (Port Townsend Branch) as a member and a Worthy Advisor. After high school, Penny continued to stay connected to her high school friends and even helped a time or two on class reunion planning committees.
Penny continued along the path of serving others as she worked as a server and a cook at The Uptown Cafe in the late '60s. She continued cooking for The Topside Cafe (Boat Haven) and Crazy Eric's/Brian’s Bounty through 1976.
In 1973, Penny married classmate William L. McIntire. Though this relationship wasn't permanent, they did have one child together, Shannon (1976), and remained friends after divorce.
After Shannon was born, Penny continued with her 18 years as a cook and pie-making extraordinaire. She worked at the Mill Cafeteria under her cousin Carl Schmidt (Fat Smitty), The Burger Works, and finally ended her cooking career at The Soda Fountain (located in the back of Don’s Pharmacy). She did, however, come out of retirement for a few weeks to help Fat Smitty as he started his business in Discovery Bay.
Having been introduced some years prior, Penny married John Baldridge in 1984. With that marriage, Penny acquired four more children.
In the mid 1980s as she was learning how to navigate a newly blended family, Penny hung up her apron and was hired on at Don’s Pharmacy as a cashier. She remained there until 1990, when she was hired as a teller at Quimper Community Credit Union (now Kitsap Credit Union). While there she wore many different hats; teller, financial service representative, loan officer, and VP of Lending. After 24 years of service to the credit union, and the people that frequented there, Penny fully retired in 2014.
Penny was preceded in death by her parents, Henry Schmidt and Emily (Schmidt) Anderson, and brother Ralph Austin.
Penny is survived by her husband John (38 years); daughter Shannon Dykman (Todd); stepdaughters Susan Weinstein (Paul), Mary Krogermeier (Andy), and Jenni Dougherty (Wayne); stepson Joseph Baldridge (Leslie); grandchildren Catherine Guevarez (Lou), Hunter Dougherty, Maddie Vähk (Ants), Kendal Dykman, Riley Dykman, and Jacob Krogermeier; brothers Gary Dempsey and Tim Schmidt (Lucy); and numerous nieces and nephews.
Penny created and shared countless memories with the people she surrounded herself with. Many of her relationships continued for years and she loved any opportunity to catch up with family and old friends, no matter how long it had been since she last saw them.
Penny will be deeply missed by her family and friends. It’s her time to dance in heaven and sing in the angel’s choir.
Please join us as we gather and share stories in a Celebration of Penny’s Life from 1 to 4 p.m. May 6, 2023 at the Port Townsend American Legion #26.
