Penelope Ann "Penny" Underdal

Penelope Ann (Penny) Underdal, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed into Heaven on 13 December 2019 at age 76. She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on 11 November 1943 to Dearl Dee Gardner and Elizabeth Jane (Hannon) Gardner. Born into a military family, Penny spent her childhood moving from military station to military station. Fortunately, she was able to spend all four high school years in Sacramento, California, thanks to her father’s taking a remote tour to allow the family to stay in one spot long enough for her to graduate and be a cheerleader as well. Penny began her college career at the University of Utah, but then transferred to Ohio State University where she proudly earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. After graduation, Penny began a 17-year career as an intelligence analyst for the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, D.C. During her career she was stationed at the United State Embassy in Rome Italy, and was the POW/MIA analyst for Laos in DIA’s POW/MIA office. During this time Penny also earned a Master’s Degree in International Affairs from Georgetown University. Her last position was as the Freedom of Information Officer for the Defense Intelligence Agency answering all outside requests for information about DIA activities. When her husband, Dr. Stanley J. Underdal, accepted a university teaching position at San Jose State University, Penny left her position in the Department of Defense and moved with her husband and children, Shannon and Shaun, to Fremont, California. Penny then taught Political Science in several San Francisco Bay Area colleges, but she was particularly happy as a part-time teacher of Special Education students in the Fremont, California, schools. An ardent internet researcher and Facebook enthusiast, Penny made friends all over the world, enjoyed ocean and river cruises, loved her dog Bianca, a purebreed Bichon Frise, attended every dance recital of her daughter and granddaughter, celebrated the commissioning of her son as an Air Force officer, and understood fully the joys and challenges of her daughter as a Special Education teacher. Penny also loved great art and visited major art museums all over the world, including The Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia. Her bookshelves are filled with art books and art pieces; her favorite artist was Claude Monet. She also was a great lover of music, particularly music of the 1970s and 1980s. For many years she sang in a local chorus and thoroughly enjoyed the musical friends she made. She lived life to the fullest. Penny temporarily leaves behind her husband Stan, daughter Shannon in Sacramento, California, and son Shaun in Fremont, California; stepsons Stanley Jr. in Ashburn, Virginia, and Bret in Fountain, Colorado; granddaughter Xiana Underdal in Sacramento, California; grandson Chook-Boke Underdal in Ashburn, Virgina; sister Kathleen Gardner in Charleston, South Carolina; aunt Connie Gardner in Oakland, California: and uncle Robert Hannon in Salt Lake City, Utah. Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM, Saturday, January 4, 2020 with a Chapel Service at 11:00 AM, Fremont Memorial Chapel, 3723 Peralta Blvd., Fremont.

Penelope Ann "Penny" Underdal

November 11, 1943 - December 13, 2019