Randal Penrod

Randal “Randy” Lynn Penrod entered this life on May 12, 1960 and joined his Creator on September 4, 2022. Born in Ft Worth, Texas with the exuberant personality of his father James “Jim” Kenneth Penrod, Jr. and the kindness of his mother, Mary Sue “Sue” Cates, he became a man who could entertain, laugh, exasperate, encourage and love.

It has been said that life is not about the beginning and the end dates but instead, it is about the dash in between. Randy made the most of that dash as an independent, precocious child with a mischievous twinkle in his eye and a brilliant sense of humor. The personality plus that made him uniquely Randy, is still talked about amongst those who considered him friend and family.

Randy was also smart, knowledgeable and captivating. He could recite baseball facts, news stories and his own tall tales like a news reporter. So, it was no surprise that following his high school graduation in 1978 from Plano Senior High School he struck out on his own life adventure. Never one to shy away from a stranger or a conversation, and his love of nice shoes and accessories, his decades-long sales career in high-end fashion was a natural fit that took him to Texas, California, Nevada, Illinois, Arizona, Massachusetts and Florida with internationally acclaimed fashion brands like Salvatore Ferragamo.

And, although Randy had a successful career, it was not his first love. Family filled that role. And, it was because of his love of family that following his father’s death in 2002, he moved back home to Texas to be closer to his mother. That change also led to a new business venture when he opened a recruiting company specializing in law firm placements, RPRealplacements. The flexibility he found in owning a company allowed him to be available to his friends and family, who will truly miss his smile, his laugh, his stories, his jokes, his support and his nicknames.

Those loved ones include his brother Michael of Arlington, Texas and sister, Deleana (Penrod) Roseland and husband, Tim of Gillman, Iowa. Nephews, Matt Penrod, Adam Penrod, Craig Roseland with wife Brenda, and Curt Roseland. Nieces, Jill (Roseland) Lewis with husband Chris, and Lori (Roseland) Miller with husband Justin. Also mourning are eleven great nieces and nephews, his Uncle Sam and Aunt Laura Silvera, his dear cousins and the friends he made in every decade of his distinctive dash.

It was also during his abundant life that Randy felt the sting of loss his mourners are now feeling. He will be joining his parents, grandparents, Uncles, John Spradlin and Ken Cates, Aunts, Billie Jean Spradlin and Ruth Cates in God’s promise of eternal life.

His surviving friends and family rejoice that Randy put his whole heart in the hands of a Redeemer who promises to walk with, or carry you, in times of trouble. It was this faith, and the prayers of the faithful, that allowed him to survive a devastating stroke in 2019 and to rehabilitate in a new home close to his family in Iowa. It was here that he made new friends and work colleagues, and once again, lived his days in the dash to their fullest until the Lord called him to his eternal adventure.

A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, September 18 @ 6:00pm in the Chapel at The Embers in Marshalltown, Iowa. Followed in his hometown by Graveside Services for Randal Penrod, and final resting place for his mother, Sue, on September 30th at 10:30AM at Plano Mutual Cemetery (18th and Jupiter Rd, Plano, Texas).

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations in Randy’s name be made to Special Olympics, a favorite of his loved one, Scott Roseland, at SpecialOlympics.org (Click on the Donate button. Complete the form. Be sure to fill in the tribute section as well). Or, alternatively, donate to the Texas Biomedical Device Center (TxBDC) at The University of Texas at Dallas, where his dear friend Benjamin Stanislav who Randy nicknamed, The Blonde Bomber, performs research on a team dedicated to stroke rehabilitation at giving.UTDallas.edu (Choose “other” and enter “Texas Biomedical Device Center.” Be sure to fill in the tribute section as well). Memorials may also be directed to the family for designation at a later time.

Obituary lovingly written by Randal’s family