Carpenter named Royal Lady

Penelope, Penny, Carpenter is a native Oregonian and graduate of the University of Oregon. Her husband says she bleeds green and yellow.

Thirty-one years ago she and her husband John were married in the backyard of their Leavenworth home and they have remained dedicated Leavenworth residents ever since. John had discovered Leavenworth on one of his travels and he and Penny say they fell in love with this beautiful little Bavarian Village.

Penny said she immediately went down to Arlene Wagner’s store where she bought some dirndls and began her community service.

She soon discovered the Autumn Leaf organization and she and her daughter, Whitney, began walking in parades in support of this group of dedicated citizens.

Penny’s commitment to ALFA grew over the years as she became a Board member and eventually President. As President she attended all of the Northwest Hosting Association festivals in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, Canada.

The Washington State Autumn Leaf Festival Association is the oldest local festival. It was created to put the Bavarian Village on the map and imprint the residents love of their town on the hearts of people across the northwest.

Autumn Leaf was not Penny’s only commitment to community service. Her list of community activities and honors is extensive including Founder of the Jr Service League, now Women’s Service League, Founder of the Festival of Trees (Wenatchee), one of the founders of P.E.O. Chapter JF here in Leavenworth and member of the Leavenworth Women’s Exchange.

She has served on numerous local boards including The Upper Valley Museum, Barn Beach Reserve, Cascade Education Foundation, Icicle Center for the Arts, and the Nutcracker Museum Board.

Penney’s professional life includes an extensive background in the hospitality industry including having opened 3 new hotels. When she came here she took her resume down to the Red Lion and she said the phone was ringing when she got home. Penny became the Director of Catering.

Penny left Red Lion in 2002 to take the position of Executive Director of Colonial Vista Retirement Apartments and Assisted Living. She retired from Colonial Vista in 2011.

Her daughter, Whitney said of her mother, “Wherever she has lived, my mother has been involved. It is impossible to count the number of people who have benefitted from her genuine and contagious enthusiasm and her belief in the importance of giving back to her community.”

Penny said she is anxious to get out on the parade circuit representing our community and invite all those she meets to come and experience our little Bavarian Village and all that it has to offer.