Vail Daily obituary: Lydia Ann Pennock-House, 1959-2015

Lydia Ann Pennock-House, beloved daughter, wife, mother and grandmother, passed away on June 15 at 8:45 p.m. after a two-year battle with breast cancer. She passed at home surrounded by her family and a close friend.

Lydia was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on Nov. 11, 1959, to Levis and Gertrude Pennock. She married Chuck House on Dec. 21, 1981, after they met working for Alamosa City and County Ambulance Service and attending Adams State University (then College) in Alamosa. Chuck and Lydia have been longtime residents of the Vail Valley since moving to Gypsum in 1985.

Lydia owned retail businesses in Beaver Creek and Eagle for over 20 years. Most recently she worked at the Spring Valley campus of Colorado Mountain College as bookstore manager. She loved her work at the college, where helping students brought her joy and fulfillment. Lydia enjoyed many hobbies including gardening, scrapbooking and beading. She was well known in Gypsum for her fight to legalize the ownership of chickens within town limits after many years of raising “illegal chickens.” She had so many friends that a simple Costco run for milk always turned into a two-hour trip because she had to stop and talk to everyone (only a slight exaggeration).

Lydia will be remembered as loving, positive, giving, joyous and courageous. She is survived by her husband, Chuck; three children, Charlee, Scott and Levis; two grandchildren, Emmett and Ameena; father, Levis Pennock; sisters, Lynda Brent and Lisa Gallegos; and brother, James Day.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday at 4 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church of Gypsum (148 Eagle St.). A reception will immediately follow where light finger food will be provided. Anyone wanting to bring a dish to share, please feel free to do so. A wine toast will be held at 8:45 p.m. If you cannot stay or come back for the toast, you are welcome to join the toast from home. Dogs are welcomed at the church for the memorial and reception. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Callaway Young Cancer Center to help provide wigs for cancer patients. A donation basket will be available at the church. Lydia did not want people to spend money on flowers. However, if you would like to bring flowers, she would have loved flowers from your garden.