Penny Wertz

Penny Wertz was my friend from Van Cleve Elementary. While growing up I remember playing at each other's houses and especially enjoyed jumping on Penny's pogo stick. We always seemed to be competing for something, so we had a contest to see who could jump the most consecutive times. I won, but winning caused me to double over in pain in her living room because my stomach muscles ached with the tension I'd put on them. Penny's mother soothed me and called my parents to come get me--it was evident I couldn't walk home! During those grade school years, we also competed for selling the most tickets to Van Cleve's fall festival. We competed for cheerleaders at our elementary school. Thank goodness I gave that up and went in a different direction at CW as a majorette. Of course Penny became a great cheerleader during our high school years.

Also, Mrs. Wertz was my piano teacher so I spent many days struggling at the keyboard in Penny's house. I'm sure Penny found some place to go so she didn’t have to listen to my attempts at being a pianist. I was saddened to hear of her loss but know the memory of a bright, cheerful, vibrant member of the class of '64 remains in us.

Alice Barger Craig