Penny Parker

Penny Ann Edens Parker, beloved mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away on June 20, 2023. She is now fully healed and present with her Lord and Savior. A private burial at Oakwood Cemetery will be followed by a celebration of her life at OakCrest Funeral Home located at 4520 Bosque Blvd, Waco, Texas at 11:30 A.M., Friday, June 30.

Penny was born in Waco, Texas at Hillcrest Hospital on January 12, 1948, to Rodger Dawson Edens and Louise Pennington Edens. Penny grew up in Waco and graduated from Richfield High School in 1966. After High School, she attended Southwest Texas State College in San Marcos. She later because a flight attendant for Braniff Airways and served in that capacity until Braniff ceased operations in 1982. She decided to pursue her passion for working with animals and was appointed the senior Animal Care Specialist at Walt Disney World in Florida. At Disney, she was a zookeeper and animal trainer of the large exotic cats and also trained the exotic birds on Discovery Island. She continued her love of animals throughout her life. In 2002 she left her career with Disney to come back to Waco to care for her aging parents. Eventually, she extended that care to their entire circle of friends. Penny had a servant’s heart and gave of her time helping so many in the Waco Community. She delivered Meals on Wheels for the past 19 years and prepared and served Wednesday night dinners at Lake Shore Baptist church, where the Edens’ family were charter members. She was a lifelong supporter of the Baylor Bears and the Waco Zoo. Penny loved spending time with her family and her many friends. She loved puzzles, reading, and walking with her friends. She loved her new home and her neighbors who became like her family. Penny faced many health obstacles in her last years with courage, strength, and grace. Her kind and loving heart and beautiful smile will be missed by us all.

Penny was preceded in death by her young son, Michael Walsh, mother, Louise “Penny” Edens, Father Rodger Dawson Edens, and sister-in-law Virginia Price Edens.

She is survived by her brothers; John Edens and David Edens and wife Scherry; beloved nephews & nieces; Rodger & Kelly Edens and their children Alexis & Nia, Brent and Emily Edens and their children Milo & Wyatt, David and Julie Edens and their son Jonah, and Erik Edens and Megan Edens and their children Liam & Levi and her dear friend Lynn Williams.

The family wishes to thank all of the many friends who sent cards and encouragement during her illness and to those who lovingly cared for her during these last months with a special thanks to Lynn Williams.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Penny’s memory may be made to Meals on Wheels Waco, Fuzzy Friends of Waco, or the Cameron Park Zoo.