Return to Sellars Funeral Home
Condolences
Loading...
d
The family of Thomas William Penrice uploaded a photo
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
/tribute-images/3638/Ultra/Thomas-Penrice.jpg
Please wait
L
Laura Burgoine posted a condolence
Thursday, May 12, 0001
When i think of Chief I will remeber his long floppy silver hair, his shakey hands, well groomed appearance and beautiful deep English accent, the smell of tomato soup warming for lunch at The White House and fresh cut grass in the ever over-growing garden. I remember when i was about seven years old, I was unable to sleep from excitement when i was told Chief was coming to visit, and once, i even pretented to be ill at school so i could come home and be the first of my brothers and sisters to see him and have a chat on the sofa over a cup of hot chocolate. I spent years of my childhood believing Chief was magic after he once produced a coin from behind my ear and I looked forward to the Burgoine tradition of ringing him on Christmas day to perform a Christmas Carrol down the phone which Kathy, Amy, Jake, Jesse and myself had prepared for him earlier that day. Chief, I am proud to be your Granddaughter, you will be dearly missed and fondly remembered Xxx
A
Adam Hewitt Smith posted a condolence
Thursday, May 12, 0001
Meeting Chief at Kathy's 21 birthday in London is still firmly in my memories along with every other moment I was able to share with him since. Not least during our wedding in July 2007. It made our day to be able to ask Chief to read during our service, to share ice cream with us all down in Port Quin and to join us at the Long Cross Hotel afterwards. His kind, gentle and loving nature will be missed.
C
Carolyn, Lindsey, Beverly and Sarah posted a condolence
Thursday, May 12, 0001
Eulogy to our beloved father, Tom Penrice Tom was born in Wigton Cumberland on July 2 1921 and grew up on the coast at Allonby just across the bay from Scotland. His mother Annie was of Scottish descent. Her ancestor Alexander McKenzie fought for the Scots against Napoleon. His father Thomas Henry was English. Tom was always proud of his heritage. He was the tenth Thomas Penrice in a line stretching back to 1520 all born within a few miles of each other on the north Cumberland plain. Tom was a keen student who earned a scholarship to Workington High School, which focused on the sciences. After school he joined his uncle Jack�s engineering company for a short while before moving to London to join an aircraft systems company at the start of World War II. There, he was responsible for aircraft design and analyzing causes of aircraft failure to support the RAF as they fought Hitler. He was also a corporal in the Home Guard, trained to fight off the expected German invasion. At night he was a plane spotter during the air raids. He would note that these duties afforded him the best view of the Battle of Britain from the top of a tall building in west London. During this time he met his wife Dee and they had 4 daughters-Carolyn, Lindsey, Beverly and Sarah who are all here today to honor their beloved father. Towards the end of the war Tom, Dee and their baby moved away from the V-bombs to the relative safety of Bedfordshire. There Tom worked for PerPro in research and development. This move started his life long fascination with Tungsten Carbide and he became one of the foremost experts in hard metals for over 60 years. His long and successful career earned him the respect of an entire community, the nickname �Mr. Heavy Metal�, numerous awards and recognition. Companies from around the world continuously sought to hire him. In 1967 he decided to join Greenleaf Corporation in Saegertown PA where he worked for several years. Later he moved to Teledyne Firth Sterling and was associated with them as a Vice President Technology and as a Consultant until he finally retired in 2008. He was loved, admired and respected by all who trod his pathway. Our memories are of a kind and personable man with a great sense of humor who loved nothing better than to challenge your intellect and question your ideas. He inspired so many people to think and learn. He always wanted a house by the water and, eventually, after several moves his dream came true in Mt Juliet. He has spent a lifetime on his DIY projects with spectacular results of which he can be proud. His 4 daughters will miss him greatly and will always remember him as a loving and wonderful father who inspired them to follow their dreams while pursuing an education. Comfort for them comes in seeing so much of his character, ability and passion living on in his grandchildren. It was with great sadness that childhood heart disease cut short the life of Dee. She remains well remembered and much loved. They had a wonderful life together. The village of Tingrith was a special place for Tom and it is hoped that those who could not come for today�s celebration of Tom�s life will be able to gather there for a memorial service to honor him. Our thoughts are with Esther whom he loved so dearly. We are glad that until recently they were able to enjoy a happy life in retirement, which included travel and time spent with family around the world. The more recent difficulties were a great sadness and Tom�s valiant efforts to be with Esther even when he was not well himself are a measure of his absolute devotion to her. Esther, please take comfort in that love and devotion. He was by your side until his heart could manage no more. We will all remember him as a man who never gave up, who continually demonstrated his thirst for knowledge and solving problems throughout his life. He was never deterred and would never turn back. This drive coupled with an innate ability to demonstrate his love for family and friends leaves us mourning the loss today of a unique and
J
Jesse Thomas Burgoine posted a condolence
Thursday, May 12, 0001
I will always remember looking up to Chief as a young boy, amazed at all the things he could do and teach me each weekend we spent at the White House. He had no sense of fear at all, and I admired that. I remember him being stood precariously on a tall wooden stool each year reaching as high as he could with a large electric hedge trimmer next to the drive way. I also remember being passenger with Chief driving down the wrong side of the road many times. I loved every minute I spent I got to spend with him. Love you Chief
H
Helen Langrish posted a condolence
Thursday, May 12, 0001
I always knew I had an Uncle Tom but had never met him until the day, when I was about 8yrs old, that I answered our front door to be met by a stranger.'You must be Helen' he said, 'I'm your Uncle Tom. Is your Mummy in?' Being a well brought up little girl, I closed the door firmly and related this to my mother who was up a ladder cleaning windows! Obviously the situation soon resolved itself and thus began over 50 years of contact with Uncle Tom, Aunty Dorothy, my four cousins and of course with Esther.
My mother Margaret was very fond of her younger brother and valued greatly any time when they managed to meet. It was a proud moment for me when Uncle Tom walked me down the aisle to be married to John. John was meeting him for the first time and says he was thrilled to meet this tall, distinguished, intelligent and funny gentleman from the USA.
At family gatherings, Uncle Tom would always ask us to raise a glass 'to absent friends' Let us now do the same for him!
T
Thomas Bone posted a condolence
Thursday, May 12, 0001
I have very great memories of Papa all of which will never be Forgotten.The times he would take my family and I out on the boat and he would get it going fast enough that we would bounce out of the water,no matter how much nana and my mother would complain he'd keep doing to the enjoyement of my sister and I. Or all the time wed go visit the couple with the boat jimminy cricket and spend hours crawling through the boat and using the secret door.One of my most cherished memories is the night Papa,Dad and I went to the nashville fairgrounds speedway to watch a NASCAR Busch series race..He went and enjoyed asked questions if he didn't know what was going on.It was my first and only race that I've been to in person.Papa loved doing things with us kids even if he never heard about it before..His love for family,friends,strangers was an inspiration to anyone that knew him.Anyone would love to have the relationship papa and nana had together ..it was true and everlasting love. It is my truest honor be named after you papa..I love you and miss you, Thomas John Bone
E
Elizabeth Bruce posted a condolence
Thursday, May 12, 0001
I'll never forget Uncle Tom and Esther arriving in Seattle to attend my High School graduation! It was such an honor. And when Sarah and I traveled across country by Jeep and stopped in Nashville, Uncle Tom was such a gracious host. We will miss Uncle Tom - our English family in America. Love, Elizabeth Bruce (Boston, MA)
S
Sue and John Heilbrunn posted a condolence
Thursday, May 12, 0001
We send our condolences. We will miss you dearly. Thank you for taking care of my Aunt for so many years!
R
Ron Poston posted a condolence
Thursday, May 12, 0001
Tom was one of the most interesting and intelligent persons I ever met. His breadth of knowledge on so many subjects was unbelievable. My admiration for him had a lot to do with my emigrating to the USA from England to work with him in 1980. I remember him taking me on a tour of Washington DC when I first came over here, we were touring the Capital building and Tom was relating so much history that by the end of the tour we had a crowd of about 25 people listening to him. That was Tom for you, I will miss him so much.
Ron Poston
J
Jake Burgoine posted a condolence
Thursday, May 12, 0001
I eat my peas with honey,
I've done so all my life,
I eat my peas with honey,
It keeps them on the knife. A silly poem i can remember Chief telling me as a child - it always makes me smile along with many other happy memories of him with Esther in Tingrith, Wrestlingworth and Nashville. Love you Chief
K
Kathy posted a condolence
Thursday, May 12, 0001
My earliest memories of Chief are in the white house. Playing hide&seek, sitting in the kitchen in our warmest clothes playing cards & giving him a violin recital after only 1 lesson! He always quizzed me, his favourite question was �Do you know how to convert Celsius into Fahrenheit?� He must have told me a 100 times & I could still never remember the answer! He was full of facts; �did you know it is possible to write the whole Old Testament on the back of a stamp? My Friend could!" I am still not sure if that's true? When he lost his luggage on the way to my 21st & he came to my Blacktie party wearing his Black Leather Jacket! My friends thought my Grandpa was very cool! His reading at our wedding was wonderful, he impressed everyone by reading beautifully from beginning to end. I am so happy that he was able to be part of that special day. Chief was an inspirational man, hardworking, loving, generous & extremely intelligent. I will miss him dearly but remember him fondly. Love Kathy
A
Amy Nicholas posted a condolence
Thursday, May 12, 0001
Chief was an absolutely amazing person and probably the most intelligent person I have ever met and he taught me many interesting things. My fondest memeroies of Chief are of my trip to stay in Mount Juliet with him and Esther in 2005. He took me to his workplace in Alabama and taught me about his tungsten carbide, he told me many stories about growing up and his family on the long drive down. He also took me on a tour of New York, up the Empire State Building... and a tour of his local Kroger! While I was there, he was up on the scaffolding with Scott putting windows in and doing work on the extension. His enthusiasm and hard working nature are extremely inspiring. He insisted on eating at the same place every day... Captain D's I think. Of course I have many beautiful memories from when we were growing up, mainly in the White House and Mum and Dad's house when him and Esther used to visit us. We used to play on the bongos at the White House and out in the "huge" garden, that doesn't seem so big now. And hwne him and Esther used to come to our house they used to bring us lots of wierd and wonderful american delights and then promtly fall asleep on the sofa as they were so jet lagged. You will be so dearly missed Chief and I am so proud that you were my Grandad. You have left such a legacy behind and I will make sure Daisy and any other children I have, know how wonderful you were. All my love, Amy
B
Brock, Craig, and Jeannine Ramsey posted a condolence
Thursday, May 12, 0001
We had known Tom and Esther for several years before our son, Brock, was born. But from the moment we brought that infant carrier into their living room, they referred to us as "family." Tom and Brock had a special bond. Both their faces would light up as soon as they saw each other. Our favorite memories are of Tom, at age 89, sitting cross-legged in his living room floor, hiding Brock's toy cars in his khaki shirt pockets and wearing coasters on his head as they both laughed. Or picking Brock up and sitting him on his lap. An 89-year-old and a 5-year-old discussing politics and the Gulf Coast Oil Spill. Tom was so intelligent; so accomplished; yet so unpretentious. He was always working on a project, and always insisting that it be just so (which generally meant his way). He never wanted to take advantage of anyone and would rarely ask for help. Tom was so proud of his England, of his family, of his daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. And he loved Esther so much. When she got sick, he literally put everything else on hold to take care of her. Watching them hold hands was one of the sweetest things to witness. His devotion was never-ending. It was an honor and a privilege to know Tom Penrice. We love him and we will miss him dearly.
D
Diana Newcombe posted a condolence
Thursday, May 12, 0001
One of my first memories of Chief is of him appearing on a surprise visit to Australia when I was 7. The fact of the surprise was a little lost on me I think but I so remember him sitting in the lounge room with Holly Hobbie watches for Camilla and I. That watch was the best thing ever. I loved our visits with Chief - wandering around the gorgeous property that had real icicles in winter, coming in one Christmas to the most magnificent tree I had ever seen and the sense always of Chief's tenacious strength, character, insightful and penetrating observations and his wealth of knowledge of our family. I hope to pass some of that Penrice spirit to Chief's greatgrandson, Sawyer. I am very proud to be Chief's grandchild. We will miss him very much. Diana
J
Jerry Weiland posted a condolence
Thursday, May 12, 0001
It was my good fortune to be a contemporary of Tom's for almost 20 years. I remember with pleasure our travels and his professional, cerebral approach to everything. His kindness and attention to friends and family are well known. I'm proud to have known him.
Q
Quentin Batcho posted a condolence
Thursday, May 12, 0001
Well I haven't been to see him in a while but I never had any trouble with him meaning no yelling from him or anything that bloke was a quiet Englishmen. It was sad for him to leave us but you never know when I first accidentally read a text on my dad's that said Gpa was dead I felt him looking down at me or even right behind me telling me in his old English accent � Sorry you read this Q but your parents were going to tell you tomorrow�. An I could feel floating to heaven. It hurt to read it but crying for me in my perspective was a sign of weakness. It took me long to practice not to cry but after my last funeral I vowed to hold back my tears. It was 2 days ago when I found out I was a pallbearer and not my dad I was excited I usually stand and watch but not this time I'm happy to talk to anyone related to Tom aka Gpa on facebook Just look at my name
R
Ray Newcombe posted a condolence
Thursday, May 12, 0001
Thomas William Penrice 1921-2010
A Tribute from Ray
In the book on the Solway Firth so carefully put together by Brian Blake, I note that the village of Allonby on the Cumberland coast in the Lake District of England, near where Tom was born and where he spent his childhood, used to be known for the quality of its salt production as well as fishing and farming. Tom in many ways had a humble beginning, as often those that are called the salt of the earth do, but he became a world renowned hard metal expert and contributed greatly to the forces for good in this world.
The valuable personal history of Crosby, Crosscanonby and Allonby in the twenties and thirties in the Family Chronicle gives us a rare insight into that time and the pranks Tom and his mates got up to. It also tells us a lot about the depression and about Tom�s experiences in World War II.
I particularly like the story of the carbide trick. Calcium Carbide was used for bicycle lights before batteries. Tom and his friend would put a few lumps of calcium carbide into a tin can, spit on them thoroughly, close the lid and place it on the ground outside the front door of a house. Knock on the door, then hide, and watch the owner answering the door and being startled out of his wits by the big bang which occurred as acetylene gas blew the lid off!
In 2007, Carolyn and I were pleased to spend some time on the shores of the Allonby Bay and show Tom our pictures of it. Following our visit up north we all went to Kathy�s wedding in Cornwall. He really enjoyed that ice cream on the beach afterwards and having all four daughters together at that special time.
Before Pennsylvania and Tennessee, he had lived in Liverpool, London and Bedfordshire. His strong family ties were apparent from the moment I met him and it was a real pleasure to see the interest in genealogy and the details of family history which he fostered with Beverly. It was with great sadness that rheumatic heart disease cut short the life of Dee whose birthday anniversary occurred only a week or two ago. She remains well remembered with love and I know they had a wonderful life together. The village of Tingrith is a special place for the family and I hope those who cannot come from England at this time will be able to gather there for a memorial service and celebration of Tom�s life in a month or so.
Our thoughts are with Esther whom he loved so dearly and we are glad that until recently they were able to enjoy a happy life in retirement including travel and times with family on both sides of the Atlantic. Those in other parts of the world also kept in touch with many phone calls and visits when practical. The more recent difficulties were a great sadness and Tom�s valiant efforts to be with Esther even when he was not well himself are a measure of his absolute devotion. Be comforted Esther by that. He was with you until his heart could manage no more.
As a father in law he and I had a great relationship, which I am sure is also true for Charles and David, but his daughters- Carolyn, Lindsey, Beverly and Sarah were never far from his mind and Daddy was never far from theirs. Close to mind also were his stepchildren, grandchildren, and great grand children. A true Patriarch.
He came from a long direct line of Penrices many called Thomas. At 89, he was proud that he was the longest surviving member of the fourteen family generations dating back to 1520. Vale Tom, Chief to the grandchildren, for a life well lived and thank you. Peace be with you.
